Festuca novae-zealandiae or hard tussock is endemic to the North, South and Stewart Islands from the Kaimanawa and Ruahine Ranges southwards. It is found in montane to subalpine regions from sea-level upwards, but mostly above 330m asl to 1200m asl., in tussockland, open shrubland and rock outcrops. It is a fairly common component of low-tussock grassland, particularly in the high country, but is quite often overlooked for garden use. It is an erect, densely tufted, tawny tussock that grows to 50-60cm tall, green to slightly greyish leaves that are rough to touch when stroked downwards, but smooth when stroked upwards. It is a very hardy tussock that will tolerate considerable amounts of drought and exposure, making it useful for very difficult sites. Although it grows well in more favourable sites, it will loose its character if you treat it too well. It flowers from November to December that are followed by seed from January to February.

 Coprosma linariifolia, mikimiki or yellow wood is endemic  to the North and South Islands, from the Hawkes Bay and Manawatu, where it is somewhat local, and is widespread east of the Main Divide in the South Island. It grows from sea-level to 900m asl in lowland to montane forest, scrub, and sometimes shrubland. A very hardy, fast growing tall shrub to small tree up to 6-8m tall, with definite trunk that can have rather smooth to rough fawn-grey bark, with inner bark that is bright yellow to deep orange-yellow in colour. Its flexible branches are slender and dark brown and downy when young, and it has long, narrow, straight, sometimes curved, leathery, dark green glossy leaves that are paler underneath. It prefers open situation, has small flower in November to December followed by translucent white oblong drupes that are often flecked with blue or blue-black, or sometimes wholly black from May.

Carmichaelia muritai, coastal tree broom or Clifford Bay broom is endemic to the South Island, and can be found in the vicinity of Clifford Bay, Marlborough on deeply eroded coastal cliffs in coarse, free draining gravel and loess,  and colluvial fans below cliffs. This Nationally Endangered, leafless tree grows 5-6 m tall with a stout trunk up to 250 mm diameter. It has numerous grey-brown branches with the uppermost being erect and lower ones drooping. The branches have smooth bark with raised rings at nodes. Its flowers are white with purple/violet markings, and can be seen from December to January.  Best planted in a free draining, fertile soil, in a sunny, sheltered position. Although it does well in exposed sites, better results seem to be obtained from specimens planted next to a wall or with some shelter from strong winds. Once planted, this species does not transplant well, and it resents any form of root disturbance. Like many native brooms that have evolved in the drier eastern South Island, this species does not thrive in humid climates. Only two small natural populations are known. One is seriously threatened by goats, summer drought, coastal erosion and weeds. The other though thriving is vulnerable to fire. All parts of Carmichaelia muritai, though the seedlings especially, are highly sought after by browsing animals such as possums, goats, sheep, rabbits and hares.

Clianthus maximus, kowhai ngutu-kaka, or kaka beak is endemic to the North Island, and formerly found on Great Barrier Island. It is present in scattered populations from the East Coast of the North Island from Te Araroa south to the northern Hawkes Bay and east to the Te Urewera National Park. This Nationally Critical plant is a rare (common in cultivation) small bushy shrub 1.5-6m tall with soft woody, "watery" stems that are easily broken. Its branchlets are semi-erect to weakly ascending, often decurved. It has leaves with many pairs of leaflets  that are glossy on the upper leaf surface, and arranged along a central stalk. It has red sharp-tipped drooping flowers up to 80mm long, followed by green pea-like seed pod that splits releasing the numerous hard small blotched seeds. It may flower throughout the year, but however plants are mostly found to flower between August and January. Kaka beak is vulnerable to a range of common garden pests which include slugs and snails, it can be severely defoliated, by these animals, and young plants may be killed completely. Caterpillars, mites - which cause witches brooms, and various fungal diseases will also kill plants. To combat these problems grow plants in fertile, well drained, sunny sites free from surrounding shrubs. Despite its northerly distribution, kaka beak often does best in Southland, and is very tolerant of snowfall, and light frosts. Though more widespread than Clianthus puniceus this species is now at a very serious risk of extinction. Only 153 mature plants are known from the wild and at all sites they are threatened by a diverse range of introduced browsing animals, diseases, and natural senescence. Many populations occur in low scrub where they are threatened by fire, weed control operations, natural succession, and the unstable, erosion prone nature of the habitats in which they grow.

Meryta sinclairii, pukanui or puka is endemic to the Three Kings Islands, but is probably planted on the Chickens near Whangarei. It is found in coastal forest, grassland and scrub. With the exception of the taller kanuka dominated forest of Great island, Meryta is the dominant tree species on the Three Kings Islands.
A tree up to 8 m tall, with trunk up to 50cm across, it has brittle branches, and large glossy dark green leaves that can be up to 750mm long including the stalk and 200mm across. It flowers from August - April followed by fruit throughout the year. An extremely attractive and popular tree widely cultivated in northern New Zealand. Easily grown from fresh seed which often germinates beneath the parent tree. However, prone to phytophora and verticillium wilt for which there is no available treatment. Best grown in a coastal situation, in free draining soil. A Naturally Uncommon plant because of its range-restriction, it is abundant in the wild on all the main islands and a few of the larger islets of the Three Kings group. However, this situation could easily change if soil borne fungal pathogens current absent from the islands are introduced - this is a constant threat because marijuana growers are increasingly using remote offshore islands to grow their crops, and their crops carry these diseases. Further, should rodents invade the islands then the Meryta along with many other plants and animals unique to the islands will be under certain risk. The future of these islands is ensured only by regular visits checking for rodents and weeds, undertaken by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.

 Coprosma robusta or karamu is endemic to the North and South and Three Kings Islands. Is common throughout the country to as far south as North Otago. It is naturalised on the Chatham Islands within a small area between Waitangi and Owenga. It is commonly found throughout coastal, lowland and lower montane habitats within shrublands and open sites within forest  and swampland from sea-level to 1200m. Easily distinguished from all the other lowland, large-leaved Coprosma spp., by the seemingly entire leaves, which are finely toothed along the margins - this can be felt by dragging a finger tips along the leaf edge. Perhaps closest to Coprosma macrocarpa subsp. minor, with which it freely hybridizes, and from which the more simple leaf venation (not so reticulate), finely toothed leaf margins are useful distinctions. A rapid growing shrub to small tree capable of growing 2-3m but can get up to 6m tall and is good for filling a gap and is used a lot in revegetation plantings. It is quite often with vast amounts of orange- red fruit for long periods that birds find attractive. Can be pruned to shape if required and can form a rather dense well-shaped bush.  Will handle most conditions including extreme frost and coastal sites. Karamu was quite often used in various ways by pre-European Maori priests. It was first discovered by Banks and Solander on the east coast of the North Island.

Coprosma crassifolia or hairy coprosma is endemic to the North and South Islands, and is found from Mangonui in the North Island, southwards, and throughout the South Island, but mainly east of the main ranges. It grows in coastal, lowland and lower montane shrub-land, scrub and forest, especially on rocky ground from sea-level to 400m asl. A bushy shrub up to 4m with stiff interlacing branches, that can be reddish brown and hairy when young, but become smooth, often ridged and sculptured, somewhat polished and glossy, and mottled with darker and lighter reddish brown patches with age. It has thick characteristically broad and rounded, variable in size, green glossy leaves that are very pale underneath. The leaf stalks are hairy, and leaf blades on young plants can also fringed with hairs. Plants growing under forest canopy can be more openly branched and the leaves can be thinner and larger. It flowers from September to October, with fruit appearing from March onwards.  It is very hardy, especially for dry exposed areas.