Hebe rigidula var. rigidula is endemic to parts of the Marlborough and Nelson provinces in the South Island. It is found mostly in the Pelorus and Matai Valleys, on the Richmond and Bryant Ranges, and on Serpentine Hill in the Lees Valley, in lowland to montane areas within sparsely vegetated sites on rock outcrops, crevices, ledges, rubble slopes, boulder falls, or within ravines and river gorges from sea-level to 1300m asl.  A Naturally Uncommon plant due to range-restriction and being a sparsely distributed species. Though as a rule never that common at any particular site, most populations occur on protected land and there are no known threats. A very neat compact hebe that grows 15- 60cm tall, but can grow taller if it is left unpruned. It has rather dull green leaves, but its neat habit and the fact that it gets covered in masses of white flowers from December to February make it one of the best hebes for general garden purpose. It can be kept tidy by a light pruning after flowering.

Corynocarpus laevigatus, karaka or kopi is endemic, but exact indigenous distribution uncertain due to its widespread historic planting by Maori. It is common from Raoul and the Three Kings Islands, throughout the North and South Islands to Banks Peninsula and Okarito, and is also on the Chatham Islands. Most botanists accept it as native only to the northern half of the North Island. It is probably naturalised from deliberate Polynesian plantings on Raoul and the Chatham Islands. It is common in mainly coastal situations, often a major component of coastal forest, but rarely dominant. Occasionally found inland, and then often in association with Maori cultural deposits. Karaka is a very distinctive tree up to 15m tall, that is unlikely to be confused with any other indigenous, naturalised or planted exotic tree. The simply, leathery, dark green leaves and large orange drupes with their fibrous endocarp serve to immediately distinguish it. Some Botanic Gardens hold specimens of the other 4 species of the genus, vegetatively these look similar to karaka but their fruits are very different in colour, shape and size. It flowers from August – November followed by large orange drupes. January  to April. The pulp of the fruit is edible, although bitter, but the kernel of the fruit should be treated as deadly poison because the fresh kernels of the species contain a lethal toxin Karakin, and so the species has been banned from some amenity plantings and day care and kindergartens. The toxin, an alkaloid breaks down with exposure to UV light. Accounts from the 19th century record that extensive processing was used by Māori to convert the kernels to an edible form, and mention that if the processing was not done with the greatest care, poisoning would result with symptoms including violent convulsions and severe muscle spasms which could leave the limbs permanently fixed in contorted positions. Death resulted in a few cases. Considered frost sensitive and is best grown in coastal conditions in Christchurch. It suits a sunny site, rich deep soil, well drained and adequate moisture. It is abundant and not threatened, often naturalising in suitable habitats.  A serious pest in the Hawaian Islands.

Aciphylla scott-thomsonii, taramea, or giant spaniard is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. It is found in subalpine scrub, mixed snow tussock scrub, herb-field or grassland on permanently moist sites from 600 – 1200m asl. Aciphylla scott-thomsonii is a member of the carrot family, and is the largest and most fierce of New Zealand’s spear-grasses. It grows into a large single clump, or in small groups from a divided crown of a large taproot, with large, pointed and sharp glaucous leaves that can be up to 1m+ in length. The yellowish margins of the leaves are very finely serrated. Male flower heads are distinctly broader and more colourful than the female flowers that occur on separate plants, with masses of flowers that are borne on 3m+ tall flowering spikes from December through January (February).

 Dodonaea viscosa or ake ake is found in the North, South and Chatham Islands of New Zealand. This species is not endemic, and is widespread in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions of Africa, the Americas, southern Asia and Australasia, with variant forms. In New Zealand it is found from sea-level to 550m, in lowland scrub and forests, particularly coastal areas from North Cape to Banks Peninsula in the east, and just south of Greymouth in the west. An attractive shrub to small tree up to 2.4-6m tall, it is quite dry hardy and wind tolerant, making it great on dry banks, as a shelter plant or in a hedge in coastal districts. It has attractive pale green foliage which makes a great contrast to darker foliage. Its lime green seed capsules that appear in summer are quite ornamental and very useful in floral arrangements. It prefers light to medium, well drained soil, so in heavier soils it will require drainage. Although quite hardy it may require some frost protection in some districts, such as parts of Canterbury. Its wood is very dense and heavy and was used by pre-European Maori to make clubs and other weapons.

Alectryon excelsus, titoki or NZ ash (formerly known as NZ oak) is endemic to the North and South Islands, and is found from Te Paki in the north to Banks Peninsula  in the south, and somewhat further south in Westland. It is a common offshore island tree within the Hauraki Gulf. It is a widespread coastal to lowland forest tree that often favours well drained, fertile, alluvial soils along river banks and associated terraces from sea-level to 600m asl. It is also a major component of coastal forests, particularly those developed within exposed situations or on basaltic or and andesite volcanics. Titoki is a canopy tree growing to 9 metres in height with a  twisting trunk with smooth dark bark, spreading branches and feather-like leaves. It produces small purple flowers from October - December (-June) followed by fruit  November – August, and the seeds take up to a year to mature. The colourful seed is initially contained in a hairy woody capsule which splits revealing bright red and black unpalatable fruit (the black portion being the seed). Titoki fruit are a favourite food of the New Zealand Wood Pigeon.The large fruits are bird dispersed and so titoki trees often occur as a sparse components of most lowland forest types, throughout the North Island. Grows quickly in suitable conditions, preferring well drained, fertile soils in full sun or partial shade. A popular street tree, and as the fruit is bird dispersed it often naturalises in gardens from street side plantings.

Aciphylla aurea, taramea, or golden Spaniard is endemic to the South Island, east of the main divide from Nelson and Marlborough to Northern Southland. It is commonly found in well-drained sites on rock outcrops, in tussock grasslands or in snow tussock-scrubland association, in montane to low alpine regions from 300-1500m asl. This handsome plant can make a very good garden plant, where its rather spiky  golden yellow foliage makes it a fine feature, and when the dead leaves accumulate around the base of the plant to form a damp humus they protect the basal portion of the plant and keep it moist. A robust tufted herb that can form large clumps, and it is at its best grown in an open sunny situation with deep well drained soil for its long taproot.  It can grow to 1m or so in diameter, and has spiky flower-heads can be up to 1m +, and male and female flowers are bourne on separate plants. Mature plants can collapse suddenly and die, which is caused mainly by Phytophthora or Rhizoctonia.

Thyridia repens, syn Mimulus repens, purple musk, Maori musk, or native monkey flower is indigenous to New Zealand, and is found in the North and South Islands. It is also found in Tasmania, Australia. This naturally uncommon species is founding damp coastal sand or wet muddy margins of estuaries and lagoons.

It is a small, soft, hairless, rather succulent creeping perennial herb, with prostrate or rising branches up to 15cm long and tiny leaves. It has large flowers for the size of the plant that can be up to 15mm across. The flowers are pale purple with a yellow throat that sometimes bleach to white, and appear from October through to March.

Euphorbia glauca, waiu-atua, shore spurge or sand milkweed is endemic to New Zealand and the Chatham Islands, and is found on coastal cliffs, banks and talus slopes, sand dunes and rocky lake shore scarps. It is a perennial herb with multiple erect stems up to 1m tall and underground rhizomes. It has alternate, blue-green leaves on reddish stems that have a sticky, milky sap that can give a burning sensation if it got on your skin. It has flowers that are produced from October to February are in terminal bunches, with each flower surrounded by a deep red cup-like structure with purple glands, and  then fruit occurs from December to May. It is a nationally threatened plant, and  the natural population is declining due to threats from domestic and feral cattle, sheep, pigs and possums, mainly through browsing and trampling, competition from taller vegetation is significant at many sites, and coastal development (e.g., road widening) and erosion are further common threats to most populations. Population fragmentation makes the remnants vulnerable to sudden decline. Some populations on the West Coast of the South Island appear to have succumbed to a fungal disease. Local populations on Banks Peninsula were believed to have been extinct but a small population was found in February 2012 by Ranger Alan McDonald at the Birdlings Flat end of Kaitorete Spit. It is unsure if this was still present local stock, or that it had escaped cultivation from a local garden although there were no cultivated plants found in the vicinity. Local plants around Christchurch have been re-introduced. It is a great plant for coastal gardens and drier sites, and can make and excellent addition to any garden, although it has a creeping rhizome, and you don’t want it spreading too far it may be best contained in a pot.

Carex solandri, Forest sedge,  or Solander's sedge is endemic to the North, South and Stewart Islands. It is found in coastal to montane areas, usually in riparian forest where it may be the dominant sedge of alluvial terraces, and riversides but also colonising wet seepages and slip scars. 

It is common sedge (H 60cm x W 50cm) with drooping fresh green leaves forming yellow-green tufts. Usually found in association with Carex dissita. It prefers damp shade, although can tolerate some dryness, and it is widely used for revegetation and restoration planting.

Carex flagellifera, Glen Murray tussock, or Trip Me Up is endemic to the North, South, Stewart, Kermadec, and Chatham Islands, and  is found in coastal to montane regions.  It is a densely tufted very hardy sedge growing up to 50 cm high. Its habit is usually in free draining soils under scrub or open forest. Rarely in wetlands or in permanently damp, shaded sites. Carex flagellifera is a variable species and there are several colour forms which range from shiny green to bronze with brownish shades. The channelled leaves are 1.5-2.5 mm wide and are sharply scabrid along their margins. The flowering stems are 35-75 cm when first produced, but as the seeds mature they elongate to 2 m or so and lie along the ground. Flowering occurs during September – November and fruiting is throughout the year.