Veronica (Hebe) speciosa, titirangi or napuka is endemic to the North and South Islands. In the North Island, it is known only on the west coast, formerly from Scots Point to Urenui. Now only known from outer South Head (Hokianga Harbour), Maunganui Bluff, near Muriwai Beach, at two sites on cliffs west of Aotea Harbour, Mokau. In the South Island at Titirangi Bay (Marlborough sounds). Its habitats are coastal cliffs and headlands, in low windswept scrub and flaxlands. Found rarely under taller trees. It is a spreading to somewhat sprawling shrub up to 2 x 3 m. Branches stout, becoming woody at base, spreading to sprawling, rarely erect, often layering on contact with ground. Veronica (Hebe) speciosa can be distinguished by its magenta-coloured flowers, and dark green to pale green fleshy leaves which always have a pink-red pigmented, finely hairy leaf margin. It is cold sensitive and does best in an open, sunny, exposed place, in free draining soil. A spectacular plant ideal for a coastal property. Plants are rarely without flowers at any time of the year. It is threatened by weed invasion of its coastal habitat, browsing animals, and genetic pollution through planting of other Veronica  (hebe) species, and cultivars in the vicinity of wild populations. DNA based research has discovered that populations south of W. Auckland probably stem from deliberate past Maori plantings of this attractive red-flowered species. These plantings resulted from the movement of a limited amount of material from South Head, Hokianga, and as such these southerly populations lack sufficient genetic variability to sexually maintain themselves.