Leptinella squalida subsp. mediana is endemic to the South and Stewart Islands. It is found from northwest Nelson and inland Marlborough to Fiordland, and on Stewart Island. It grows from coastal to alpine areas from sea-level to 2000 m a.s.l. It is widespread and abundant, and often found on river beds, cobble or sand beaches, in short tussock grassland, in alpine herbfields and sometimes in lowland wet depressions and ephemeral wetlands. On the eastern side of the South Island it is more common in wetter situations and is absent from drier areas to the south. It is a dioecious, widely creeping, fast-growing perennial herb forming dense monospecific turfs or intermingled with other turf species. It has rhizomes at or near soil surface, with dark green to red-green, flexible, hairy branches with hairy bronze-green foliage. It has green-yellow flowers from August to February.

 Microleana avenacea or bush rice-grass is endemic to the North, South, Stewart and Auckland Islands, where its is fairly common in forests from sea level to 860m asl. A pleasing grass of 40cm or so tall, with spreading to somewhat drooping pale to deep green foliage, that can be slightly bluish in appearance. It is also recognised by its attractive slender and dainty flower stems, which can be up to 60cm tall and appear in summer. Being a forest dwelling species it is an ideal plant for growing under trees, and prefers moist soil and shade that is not too dense. It combines well with ferns and large leaved herbaceous plants.

Olearia odorata or scented tree daisy is endemic to the South Island. Its is found in lowland and montane shrubland and scrub, in the eastern parts from Marlborough to Otago, in Canterbury/Westland east of the main divide, and common in the Mackenzie Basin. A dark, bushy deciduous shrub that grows up to 4m tall, it has rather stiff interlacing branches, that are round in cross-section, although young branches are light fawn and downy, and are often flanged with narrow raisied ridges, one on either side of the stem, lined with fine grooves. It has small rather thick flat leaves that are dark green above and white underneath. Its flower buds are sticky, then small whitish scented flowers appear from December to February, followed by fluffy pale fawn to greyish white seed from January to March, that are dispersed by the wind.

Carmichaelia glabrescens or the pink-flowering tree broom is endemic to the South Island, where it is found naturally in Marlborough - south of the Awatere Fault. Found in the Clarence and Waima Ure River Valley’s and on slopes of the seaward Kaikouras. It is found in lowland to montane area, in alluvial terraces, gorges, cliff faces and steep valley sides, from sea-level to 1200m asl. It is  an upright shrub to small tree up to 10m tall, with many slender weeping branches that are near leafless. It has masses of pink flowers with dark pink veins from November to January, that are great at attracting bees. It is very tolerant of dry and windy conditions, and frost. Carmichaelia glabrescens is very similar to Carmichaelia carmichaeliae. They have a similar growth habit, branchlets, and flowers. Carmichaelia carmichaeliae differs from Carmichaelia glabrescens by the pods being weakly constricted between the seeds, the seed outline often visible through the dry fruit wall, and the lower filaments are usually persistent on mature fruits. Carmichaelia glabrescens pods are shorter and broader, there are no constrictions between seeds, the seed outline is not visible through the fruit wall, and the lower filaments are usually absent from mature fruits.

Acaena inermis 'Purpurea', purple biddy biddy, bidibidi, or piripiri. It is a cultivated form of the endemic species Acaena inermis which is found in the South Island. It is a compact and hardy herbaceous groundcover with a one metre spread. It has a good tight habit and unlike most species of Acaena, it doesn't have barbs on the spines of its seed-heads. It likes a sunny or shady, moist position, and its attractive deep purple leaves creates a mass makes it an effective groundcover or ideal for a rock garden.
Feed with a slow release fertiliser to attain the best foliage colour.

Leptinella nana or pygmy button daisy is endemic to the North and South Islands. It is one of New Zealand’s most threatened species, and is nationally critical. In the North Island it is only known from the south western coastline at one site near Titahi Bay. In the South Island it is known from two sites, one at the Rai Valley, Marlborough and the other near Mount Pleasant (this population is under rocky bluffs on the Lyttelton Bluff Track), in the Port Hills, near Christchurch, Canterbury. Leptinella nana’s habitat varies from forest to coastal and montane cliff-top grassland, but common features are the need for disturbance patches, shelter, and supply of moisture. The species appears to have adopted a strategy of constant colonisation of small patches of bare ground and so occupies a highly dynamic and changing micro-habitat.  Leptinella nana is a very small, perennial herb which forms very low open mats. Easily distinguished from all other indigenous, small-leaved, diminutive Leptinella species by the branches which radiate from a central cluster, rhizome leaves crowded at the apex, short shorts absent or reduced, leaf bases, phyllaries and florets which lack dark veins; and by the slender rhizomes up to 0.5 mm diameter, membranous leaves, and yellow-green capitula up to 2 mm diameter.  It flowers from early spring to end of October and early autumn to early winter.  As it is very small it is easily lost by being over topped by taller plants. It does best in permanently open ground. An ideal plant, once established for high impact areas, though it seems to prefer a damp soil to do best.  This plant is extremely threatened, and the likely factors in any local extinction of Leptinella nana include loss of temporary open sites for colonisation, increased competition from other plants, opening up of protective vegetation allowing sites to dry out or become weedy, increased erosion or deposition of debris, excessive trampling by people and animals, loss of seed dispersal vectors like terrestrial birds and other animals, seed loss to unsuitable habitat, and indiscriminate herbicide use. Slugs are a threat to cultivated plants of Leptinella nana.

Poa colensoi, or blue tussock is endemic to the North, South and Stewart Islands. It is found from the Coromandel Peninsula southwards, and occurs in lowland to subalpine grasslands, herbfields and rocky places fro 300-1500m asl, but descends almost to sea level in South Otago. Poa colensoi is a small, rather stiff tussock of variable habit and colour. It grows to 20-25cm high, and is not very wide-spreading, It has very fine, tightly rolled leaves, that vary in colour from blue-green to an almost tawny colour. It has flower stems that rise well above the foliage. It is very hardy, and mainly grows in drier areas, so is great for sunny, drier positions in the garden. It can make a good front border plant, and is also suitable for a rock garden.

Entelea arborescens or whau is endemic to the Three Kings, North (including Little and Great Barrier Islands) and South Islands. In the North Island, whau is locally common from Te Paki to about Kawhia and Mahia Peninsula south of there it is known from a few sites in the eastern Wairarapa, at Paekakariki and Wellington. In the South Island it is confined to the Golden Bay area of North-West Nelson. Whau naturalises easily and has established south of these stations from bach and urban plantings. It grows in coastal to lowland forest or shrubland. Usually in open sites such as around recent slips, tree falls, cliff faces, boulder slopes, sand dunes or on the margins of streams, rivers, lagoons and lakes. Mostly near the coast however it may occur well inland in some places e.g., the Waikato River near Hamilton, Rotorua. Some inland and southern North island occurrences are thought to be derived from deliberate plantings by Maori. It is a shrub or small spreading tree up to 8 m tall with a trunk up to 25cm in diameter, with upright branches with very light weighted wood and firm grey bark. It has rather large soft green leaves, and produces an abundance of white flowers from October to February that are followed by spiky seed capsules. Whau is however, rather short-lived (up to 15 years) although once established if often self sows. Its wood is remarkably light, which when dry does not exceed half the weight of a piece of cork the same size. Maori used it to make floats for fishing nets, and the framework for small rafts. It is not threatened but however, recent field work gathering samples for a study into the possible past use of whau by Maori indicates that whau is much less common in the North Island than it once was. Browsing pressure from cattle, goats and horses, clearance of coastal scrub of housing and the spread of invasive woody shrubs and trees into many northern coastal areas may be threatening some populations.

Leptinella calcarea is endemic to the South Island, and is found in north-west Nelson from Cape Farewell south to Kahurangi Point. It is found growing in coastal areas, on consolidated sand dunes, calcreous mudstones, limestones and conglomerate rock. This dioecious, perennial, tufted herb forms a loose to compact mat-like green carpet, and will occupy sites with minimal vegetation cover. Not invasive but will challenge other groundcovers if not maintained. It can be used as a lawn replacement in lower traffic areas and is very hardy.  It has small yellow flowers from August to November. It is best suited to full sun in a dryer well drained site. This naturally uncommon plant due to range restriction appears to be locally common within its only known habitats. There is no evidence that it has declined but most populations are rather small and could be at risk if current land use management practices in the area it occupies change.

Rhabdothamnus solandri , the New Zealand gloxinia which goes by a number of Maori names: taurepo, kaikaiatua, mata, matata, waiuatua
It is the only member of the genus Rhabdothamnus, and the only plant from the Gesneriaceae family native to New Zealand. It is endemic to the North Island and adjacent offshore islands, from Te Paki (North Cape) south to Manawatu Gorge, thence disjunct to just north of Pauatahanui Inlet, Porirua Harbour and at Smiths Creek near Makara, Wellington. This small twiggy shrub, which grows up to 2 metres tall, is found in coastal to lowland forests, near streams, or on banks. It has distinctive trumpet shaped flowers that range in colour from brick-red through to orange and more rarely a pale yellow, that occur throughout the year but peaking between October and February.
It is thought that in the past Rhabdothamnus solandri needed the long beaks of stitchbirds and bellbirds for pollination. It is now recorded that the colonist silvereye are nectar robbers of the flower by going through the side of the flower tube leaving holes. While doing this they partly maintain pollination for this species. It is frost tender, so would require protection if grown in parts of Christchurch.

Clematis 'Purity’ is a cultivar of Clematis fosterii and Clematis paniculata, that was bred  by the late Mr Arthur Ericson of Akaroa for its hardiness in the garden.  It is a strong growing evergreen climber, with stunning large creamy white sweetly scented flowers in late spring.  It requires a cool root run, so it suits an east or south facing fence, pergola or archway (it can also be grown up a tree), making sure that the lower branches and roots are shaded, as this is crucial. It needs good drainage, and moderately moist, fertile soil. Water well in its first summer, which will help it tolerate more dryness thereafter. Can also be pruned to about half its size after flowering to help maintain its vigour, and develop new flowering wood. Can be pruned more heavily if it becomes untidy!

Raukaua anomalus, syn. Pseudopanax anomalus is endemic to the North, South and Stewart Island. It  is widespread, but often localised where it grows in lowland to montane forest margins and shrubland, from near sea level to 900m asl. A shrub that grows up to 3 m tall with more or less zig-zagging, interlacing densely hairy branchlets and grey bark, with small 1-3 cm long leaves that are alternately arranged along the branches. Young leaves can be bright green at first, turning dark green. It is much more openly branched under forest canopy than when in the open. It produces tiny green-white flowers along its branches from November to January. This is followed by small (5mm) white berries with purple marks.

Celmisia semicordata subsp. semicordata,  tikumu or cotton plant is endemic  to the South Island from sea-level to alpine, up to 1400m asl., from North-West Nelson, Nelson Lakes National, Westland (to sea level at Charleston and Nine-Mile Bluff) to about Fiordland. It becomes more common further south along and west of the Main Divide, but with other populations in the east near Hamner, Waiau Valley, Lake Sumner, Puketeraki Range, Mount Peel, and the Hunters Hills. It grows in a wide range of sites and habitats, though most abundant in subalpine and lower alpine shrub and grassland in higher rainfall areas, but occasionally in coastal and lowland areas. Seaward of the Paparoa Range at Charleston and Nine Mile Bluff it grows on steep bluffs and ledges at sea level, and in south Westland it occurs on outwash gravels at the foot of the mountains below 150m asl.  It can often rapidly invade sites disturbed by burning, heavy grazing, and erosion. A robust tufted herb with stiff sword-shaped or spear-shaped, silver to silvery-green leaves with undersides that are densely covered in soft satiny tomentum, that make up a single rosettes, or are branched, forming large clumps up to 30-60cm tall. They have variable sized flower heads that can be 6-10cm in diameter , that have white petals and a yellow centre, on stems that are densely clad with soft, white, cottony hairs from November to January. They will grow in well-drained, deep and moist soil that is enriched with plenty of humus. In regions that have hot summer it would be best grown in a semi-shaded or shaded position. In a garden situation, a well grown and mature plant can suddenly collapse and die for apparently no reason. This can be due to phytophthora or rhizoctonia.

Fuchsia procumbens, creeping fuchsia,  shore fuchsia, climbing or trailing fuchsia is endemic to the North Island. This naturally uncommon species is found from the Ninety Mile Beach and Perpendicular Point south to Maunganui Bluff in the west, and Kennedy Bay (Coromandel Peninsula) in the east. It is known as a naturalised plant on Kapiti Island. It is strictly a coastal species, and can be found in cobble/gravel beaches, coastal cliff faces, coastal scrub and grassland, dune slacks and swales, and from the margins of saltmarshes (in places where it would be inundated during spring tides). It is quite tolerant of naturalised grasses and may be found growing amongst dense swards of kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum. At various times regarded as seriously threatened, partly because some populations comprise only of a single sex-type. However, comprehensive surveys throughout this species range have discovered new populations and confirmed the persistence of the majority of the older sites.  Its range has hardly decreased and it would seem that the distribution of sex-types is natural. Because the species is so tolerant of environmental disturbance and weeds it is now regarded as biologically sparse. However, some populations have been eliminated recently by coastal development for holiday homes. If this trend continues then this species will probably qualify for a higher level of threat in the not to distant future. This remarkably adaptable plant is the smallest fuchsia in the world, and can be grown in most situations. It is a slender, much branched prostrate or trailing shrub. It has very slender stems, often 60 to 90 cm long and the bark is brown and peeling, with rounded green leaves about 10mm in diameter. The flowers are unusual for a fuchsia in that they are upright (a distinction it shares with F. arborescens of Mexico). They are yellow in colour with green and dark purplish sepals, with red anthers that have blue pollen. The flowers occur in September - May followed by edible red berries in early winter. It makes an excellent ground cover, and is ideal for a hanging basket.   

                               

 Ficinia spiralis, syn. Desmoschoenus spiralis, pingao (pronounced Pee-now) or golden sand sedge is endemic to the North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands. It is found in coastal sand dune systems. It favours sloping and more or less unstable surfaces, growing mostly on the front face of active dunes but also on the rear face and rear dunes, provided that there is wind-blown sand. It can also grow on the top of sand hills. It is effective at trapping sand. Easily recognised by the distinctive overall orange colouring of the plant and by the paniculate spiral seed heads. Best grown in full sun in sandy conditions, it grows to 90cm high and puts out runners. The fruit of Ficinia has a gynophore, a feature shared only with the genus Ficinia with which it also shares paniculate, spiralled inforescences. It flowers in spring and early summer with seed in late summer. Its main threats come from competition from marram grass (Ammophila arenaria), dune stabilisation and compaction, harvesting, trampling, vehicle traffic and browsing animals. Because this species is wind-pollinated, individuals of small, isolated populations may not receive pollen during flowering, and therefore there will be no seed production. Browsing and trampling by sheep and horses; browsing of seedlings by possums; seed destruction by rodents; fire and insensitive harvesting. Frequently grown for dune restoration projects.  The yellow-green to orange leaves, when dried were used by Maori for weaving. Parts of the plant (fresh or dried) were also said to have medicinal properties.