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Identify New Zealand native plants

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Use this guide and the photos and images to help identify common New Zealand flowering native trees and shrubs. 

Click here for   Photo and reference guide.    Over 300 photos of NZ native plants

 

New Zealand's flowering trees and shrubs (dicotyledons) have over 1275 species with 270 distinct varities. In all the New Zealand flora there are 116 families, 290 genera, 1457 species and 280 distinct varieties. It's no wonder identifying native plants can sometimes be difficult. This is not a definitive guide but lists and describes  the more common flowering trees and shrubs you may encounter in the bush or at a garden centre.

Browse the species menu below if you know the species name or follow links for more information.


 Shrubs with Compound leaves

  Schefflera digitata Pate. Found in damp parts of the forests. Leaves are softer and more toothed than  Pseudopanax. Leaflets 7-18 cm long . Flowers and berries in racemes
  Pseudopanax gilleseii Three fingered five finger. Shrub to 5 m. Endemic to Whangaroa and Little Barrier Island
  Pseudopanax arboreus. Five finger. Leaves 3-8 foliate leaflets 7-20 cm long.A small tree or shrub reaching 8 metres. Found in lowland Forests throughout NZ. Flowers and berries in umbels 
  Pseudopanax lessonii Houpara Coastal Five finger. Shrub to 7 m. Leaves 3-5 foliate. Leaflets 2-10cm. Note the very long petiole. North Cape to Poverty Bay
Pseudopanax laetus. The largest leafed Pseudopanax. Petioles and mid ribs purplish red. Central North Island
Pseudopanax discolor The discoloured or red 5 finger. Coromandel
  Melicope ternata Wharangi. Shrub or small tree reaching 8 m. 3 foliate. North Island near the coast
Elatostema rugosa Parataniwha. Leaflets 5-13 cm long reddish green. Soft stems. Common in damp ground. Plant to .5m high
Hibiscus trionum   Leaves trifoliate 4-10 cm. Obvious flowers. Found in rare places on northern beaches and islands of the South Pacific. Possibly introduced by pre european maori
 

Shrubs with simple leaves longer than 2cm.

  Aristotelia serrata Wineberry Makomako. Shrub or small tree reaching 9 m. Leaves5-12cm long with a long petiole. Blade of leaf broad, rose coloured. Flowers red-white. Berry 6-9mm black
  Hedycarya arborea Porokaiwhiri Pigeonwood. Leaves opposite 5-12 cm long. Three kings to banks peninsula
Haloragis erecta A common shrub of scrublands. Often weedy. Note 4 angled stem
  Coprosma grandifolia syn Coprosma australis Raurekau Leaves 10-22 cm long, dull green or mottled. Shrub or small tree reaching 7m
  Coprosma lucida Karamu leaves 5-12 cm long Shrub reaching 5m. Leaves bright green,glossy,thick.
  Coprosma repens Taupata leaves 2.5- 7.5 cm long shiny green and glossy. Shrub reaching 8m
Copros ma robusta Karamu. leaves 5-12 cm long, brownish green thick. Scruffy shrub to 5m.
Coprosma waima Leaves 5-10 cm long no petiole
  Macropiper excelsum Kawakawa. Leaves 5-12 cm. long Aromatic. North island and south to Banks Peninsula
Hebe stricta Korimiko. Lleaves 5-10 cm. long. Flowers white or mauve. Found on banks or roadsides. North Island and Marlborough
Hebe speciosa. Leaves 4-8 cm long and broad. Leaf glossy top and bottom
Geniostoma ligustrifolium Hangehange. Shrub reaching 4m. Leaves 4-8 cm soft and shiny green. North Island to Marlborough
Coriaria arborea. Tataramoa, Tutu. Leaves 3-10cm long oval. Shrub to  8 m. Forest and scrub on disturbed soils. Throughout NZ
Olearia cheesemani Leaves 5 -10 cm long, silvery beneath. Shrub to 4 m. Common in cultivation
Olearia furfuracea Leaves 5-10cm. long, obscurely toothed. North cape to the Ruahines
Olearia rani Heketara. Shrub to 7m. red veins and midribs. North cape to Nelson
  Hoheria populnea Lacebark Houhere. Leaves 5-12 cm long, often purplish beneath. Flowers white. North Cape to Waikato. A variable species of several forms.
Hoheria glabrata Leaves 5-12 cm long. Small tree or shrub to 10m.Western side of South Island.
  Pratia physaloides Koru. Colensoa physaloides. Shrub to 1.5 m. Leaves 8-18 cm, similar to an Hydrangea. Soft and tender. Flowers and berries purple or violet. North of Whangarei
Melicytus macrophyllus Large leaved Mahoe. Shrub reaching 6 m. Glossy leaves 7-15 cm long. Kaitaia to Dunedin
  Melicytus ramiflorus Mahoe Whiteywood. Leaves 5-12 cm. long. Shrub or small tree reaching 10 m. Lowland forest throughout NZ
  Myoporum laetum Ngaio. A shrub or small tree reaching 8 m. Leaves 3-10 cm. long. with small spotted glands. White flowers. Purple berries.
  Solanum aviculare Poroporo. Softwooded shrub reaching 3 m. Leaves variable in shape about 10-30 cm. long. Purple flowers. Yellow or orange berries
  Entelea arborescens Whau. Leaves 10-24 cm long rounded with small hairs. North Cape to Raglan near the coast.  Local to Nelson
Pseudopanax ferox Savage leaved lancewood. Leaves 7-15 cm. long. Small tree reaching 7m. Related to P.crassifolium
  Pseudopanax crassifolium Horoeka Lancewood. Leaves 7-20 cm. long. tree reaching 13 m. Distinctive juvenile form with leaves 15-30 cm long. Auckland to Stewart Island . Picture is of adult foliage
Dodonea viscosa Akeake NZ Hop Bush. Shrub or small tree reaching 10 m.Leaves 2-10 cm. Northcape to Greymouth in dry spots
Pisonia brunonnianum Parapara. Small tree or shrub reaching 10m. Leaves 10-40cm long, glossy green. Sticky seeds 3-5 cm long that may trap small birds and insects. Three Kings to East Cape
  Fuchsia excorticata Tree Fuchsia Kotukutuku. A deciduous shrub or small tree to 10 m. Leaves 3-12cm long and slender. Flowers red or purple , 2-3 cm long. Berry 1-1.5 cm long, purplish black
Mida salicifolia Maire Small tree or shrub. Leaves 7-12 cm long , variable in width. Lowland forests of the North Island
Elingamita johnsonii Shrub to 6 m.From west island on the Three Kings this plant is becoming more common in Northern gardens
Grisilinia lucida Puka. Shrub reaching 8m., often an epiphyte on tall trees. Berry 8mm. long, dark purple
Grisilinia litoralis Kapuka Broadleaf. Leaves 2-10cm long and assymetrical. Berry 6mm long black
Pomaderris kumerahou Kumerahou, Gumdiggers soap. Leaves 5-8cm. long with prominent veins and midribs. A shrub to 3m. Flowers numerous and bright yellow in spring. North cape to Bay of Plenty
Meryta sinclarii Puka. Leaves about 30cm long. Endemic to three kings and hen and chicken Islands. Common in Northern gardens.Purple berries
Pseudowintera colorata Pepperwood Horopito. Leaves blotched red and peppery to taste. Rotorua to Stewart island
Pittosporum
Pittosporum cornifolium Shrub reaching 2m. Often epiphytic. Leaves 4-7cm long in whorls. North Cape to Marlborough
Pittosporum eugenoides Lemonwood Tarata.Leaves 2-7cm long. glossy, light green and citrus scented when crushed. Shrub or small tree reaching 13m. North Cape to South Otago Distinguishing feature: leaves are citrus scented when crushed
Pittosporum tenuifolium
Pittosporum colensoi Mountain Pittosporum. Similar to Pitto. tenuifolium but with larger and glossier leaf. Found in alpine regions.
Pittosporum crassifolium Karo. Coastal Pittosporum.  Leaves 5-12 cm. Leathery and hairy on the underside.
Pittosporum umbellatum Haekaro. A coastal Pittosporum found from Coromandel north. Similar to Karo but leaves less leathery
Pittosporum virgatum Rare Pittosporum of the North. Leaves 2-4 cm. long

 


Small leaved alternate shrubs with smooth margins

 Kunzea ericoides Kanuka White tea tree. Shrub or tree reaching 16m. Bark thin, peels in strips. Leaves narrow and linear, 5-15 mm. soft to touch. Small white flowers in bunches, late spring. Fruit a capsule to 5mm. Found in shrubland throughout NZ
Manuka Red tea tree. Shrub or small tree reaching 8m. Leaves 1cm, pungent and pricks hand on touch. Flowers early spring 6-12 mm long, singular.  Fruit a woody capsule 8-12mm.  Found in shrubland throughout NZ
Linum monogynum NZ Linum Shrub to 1 m. Leaves bue/green. Tough fibrous stems, difficult to break by hand. White flowers
Hymenanthera  microphylla Thick leaved and leathery 5-12mm White berry 1cm. Found in coastal scrub Cook Strait and Banks Peninsula
  Mingimingi Cyathodes fasiculata Mingimingi Leaves 1-2.5 cm long and arranged in bundles or whorls. Juvenile form with larger leaves. Shrub reaching 5m. Often found in dry spots North cape to Canterbury
Lophomyrtus pedunculata Rohutu Leaves 6-12 mm long red and oval. Bay of Islands south
Lophomyrtus bullata Ramarama Leaves1-3cm long swollen or blistered between the veins. Sometimes red. Shrub reaching 8m. Berry 1cm long dark red to black
Muehlenbeckia australis Pohuehue Wireweed. Common on coastal gravels. Has tough brown wirey stems. The fruit is a three angled nut 2mm
Pomaderris phylicaecifloia  Tauhinu. The margins of the leaves are curled backwards, 1-2cm long. Common in shrublands.
Cassinia leptophylla Tauhinau Leaves 2-3mm long, crowded on stem, margin folded under
Corokia cotoneaster Corokia Leaves 8-25mm. long. Shrub reaching 3m. North Cape to Stewart Island
  Sophora prostrata Dwarf Kowhai . Excessively divaricating shrub with zigzag branches. Leaves 1-3 cm made of 3-11 leaflets. Banks Peninsula but common in gardens
Pittosporum pimelioides Leaves 1-4cm. long. Shrub to 2m. North Cape to Bay of Islands
Pittosporum micheii Leaves 1-4 cm. and in whorls. Shrub to 1m. North Cape and Whangaroa

      
Small leaved alternate shrubs with toothed or lobed margins     

           
Fuschia procumbens This ground herb is found in Northern coastal cliffs, and is common in gardens
Pratia angulata Ground Hugging herb found from Auckland south although common in shade
Alseuosmia banksii Karapapa
Gaultheria antipoda Snowberry
Melicytus micranthus Shrub reaching 5m. Flowers minute. berryb 3-6mm purple. From Kaitaia to Otago
Rhabdothamus solandri Turepo , Waiuatua. Leaves 1-2cm long, toothed. Flowers 2-2.5cm orange or yellow stripes. North Island
Melicope simplex Leaves 1-2cm long, winged petiole. Shrub reaching 4 m.

There are about 50 species of Coprosma that have small leaves. Many of them are divaricating.

Coprosma all have opposite leaves or branches, Stipules [a leaf sale  at nodes] and domatia [small holes at the junction of the midribs and veins]

They can be difficult to identify. The colour of the berry is a big clue.

 Click this Coprosma link for more info. on  all Coprosma

Coprosma rhamnoides   Leaves 6-12 mm long broadly oval. An excessively divaricating shrub. Found in forests and scrub  throughout New Zealand. Fruit a red or black drupe
Coprosma acerosa Leaves 6-16mm long and linear. Berry pale blue or translucent. Found on coastal sand dunes and common in ornamental gardens
 Coprosma kirkii This plant is common in gardens and is thought to be a hybrid between Coprosma acerosa and Coprosma repens. More vigorous and hardy than Cop. acerosa
Coprosma arboreus Mamangi Tree Coprosma. Shrub or small tree reaching 10 metres, however it is the largest of the Coprosma . As the plant matures into a tree the size of the leaf may increase to 5 cm. North Cape to about Opotiki
Coprosma spathulata Spoon shaped leaves with a winged petiole. Often red or brown coloration in leaf. North cape to Waikato. Red or black fruits
Coprosma rigida  Swamp Coprosma . Rigid branches that are right angled. Bark sometimes reddish. Yellow and white  fruit 6mm.Swamp Forests
Coprosma rotundifolia Leaves 10-12 mm. long orbicular. Orange berries
Coprosma aff.neglecta Coprosma whangaroa. Confined to Whangaroa Harbour. Berries red, yellow and orange
Coprosma parviflora Leaves variable 4-18mm. long. Branchlets often spreading and in one plane. Berry black to blue. Often found in high light situations on riverbanks
Coprosma propinqua Leaves 5-12 mm. long and thick but variable. Shrub reaching 7m. Berries blue or indigo
Coprosma depressa Leaves 4-6mm. long broadly oval. A prostrate shrub. Red Berry
Pimelia tomentosa Leaves 1-2.5cm long. A shrub reaching 1m Flowers in dense heads . Fruit 5-7 mm long white. North Cape to Nelson
Click this Coprosma link for more info. on  all Coprosma
Olearia virgata Leaves 6-12 mm. long linear. Branchlets round or 4 angled. Highly variable leaf shape. Thames to Stewart Island, shrub lands and forest margins
Pimelia prostrata   Leaves 2-8mm long, blue-green. Clusters of small white flowers.Dry places Three Kings to Bluff
Climbers
Clematis paniculata Puawhananga .Large woody climber withn5-10cm flowers, very showy. Forests throughout NZ
Tecomanthe speciosa Large vigorous climber. Endemic to Three Kings Islands although common in northern gardens. Large pendulous yellow flowers
Rubus schmidelioides. Bush Lawyer. Leaves 5-12 cm long and toothed
Rubus australis Bush lawyer. leaves 5-10 cm long oval, serrated. Prickles reddish. Fruit 8mm in diameter, yellow to red
Metrosideros propinqua Small white rata. Common Climber. White showy flowers in autumn
Parsonsia heterophylla Native Jasmine Kaihua. Opposite leaves 5-10cm. The fruit is a long narrow pod which opens to release the tufted seeds. Small but obvious white flowers.
Metrosideros carminea. Leaves 1.5-3cm long. Carmine red flowers. Mangonui to East Cape
 
 
 

Trees with simple leaves

Pennantia corymbosa Kaikomako A tree reaching 12 m. Has a juvenile divaricating form with interlacing twigs and branches. Leaves 3-10cm irregularly toothed . Fruit a small black drupe 8mm long.
Carpodetus serrata Putaputaweta. Leaves 2-5 cm long, smaller when young. Yellowish blotches on leaves. Zig zagging branches.
  Elaeocarpus dentatus Hinau. Tall forest tree to 35 m. leaves 8-15cm.long. Bottom of leaf has pits at the midrib vein
Knightia excelsa  Rewarewa Tree reaching 30 m. Leaves 10-15 cm, coarsely toothed. Flowers velvety red and yellow. fruit like a canoe 4-6cm.Common tree of ridges and dry spots. North cape to Marlborough.
Nothofagus Southern beech. Predominate trees of the mountains and cooler climates of NZ  Check out this link for specifics on New Zealand Beech
Paratrophis Milkwood. Tree reaching 12m. leaves 8-18 mm long in juveniles and and older trees up to 6cm. Berry 4mm red. Found throughout NZ
Toronia toru Toru Tree reaching 15m.Leaves 8-12 cm long with a red petiole. Fruit a pungent purple berry. North Cape to East Cape on dry ridges
Corynocarpus laevigatus  Karaka Tree reaching 18m. Leaves 7-30cm long, thick glossy.Berry orange colour 3-4 cm long. North cape to Westland.
Belschmedia taraire Taraire Common tree to 25 m of Northern lowland coastal forests. Blue underside to leaf. Leaf to 10cm x 6cm.  Berry a purple drupe 2-5 cm long
Belschmiedia tawa Tawa Leaves 5-10 cm long, thin, dull blue on underside, yellowish green above. Berry 2.5cm long dark purple. Tall tree of Northern forest reaching 25 metres
Myrsine salicina Toro. Leaves 7-18 cm. long tree reaching 10m. North Island forests & the West Coast
Litsea calicaris Mangeao
  Metrosideros excelsa pohutukawa NZ Christmas tree. Tree reaching 25m. Leaves2-10cm long, leathery and hairy or furry underneath.
Planchonella costata Tawapou Tree reaching 20m. Leaves 5-10 cm long, shining green. Red berry 2.5-4cm long,of 2or3 hard banana shaped seeds. Found on coastal headlands Northcape to Opotiki
 

trees with Compound leaves

 Ackama rosaefolia Makamaka Tree reaching 13 metresl Leaves 7-25cm long; leaflets 3-8cm long, mild serrations on margins
Sophora Kowhai Leaves of 25-40 leaflets each leaflet 6-8mm long. Tree reaching 10 metres with a distinct divaricating juvenile form.Deciduous
Vitex lucens Puriri Leaves of3-5 leaflets, each 5-12 cm long, glossy green. Common tree of northern lowland forests. Fruit a red berry with seeds inside a hard Kernel
Alectryon excelsa Titoki tree reaching 20 metres Compound leaves Fruit a hard black capsule external to a red berry Northern Forests
Weinmannia racemosa kamahi. Tree reaching 25m. Leaves 10-12 cm long 3 -5 foliate. Found from Bombay Hills South
Weinmannia silvicola Towai, Tawhero . Leaves 10-12 cm long 3 -5 foliate. Found from Bombay Hills North. Dull white flowers
Also check out

Teachers and Students. Free educational resources

Slideshows ready to use in the classroom, or for student projects. Five slideshows that cover the special features of New Zealand plants with many examples of how plants are adapted to their environment. Educational resources from here

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Other useful links : Germination strategies     A New Zealand garden   Native Grasses   Cultivation Guide    Divaricating plants    Juvenile & Adult Forms     Dioecious plants      NZ Botanists & plant names         Proverbs & quotes      Special features     Photographs    Information for identification

Agathis australis          Alectryon excelsa     Alseuosmia banksii        Aristotelia serrata    Arthropodium cirrhatum       Beilschmiedia tarairi      Beilschmiedia tawa   Brachyglottis repanda       Carmichaelia    Carpodetus serrata      Coprosma       Cordyline australis Cordyline banksii.    Corynocarpus laevigatus    Cyathodes fasciculata    Dacrydium cupressinum      Dacrydium kirkii         Dianella nigra          Dodonea viscosa    Dysoxylum spectible     Elaeocarpus dentaus    Elingamita jonsonii     Entelea arborescens      Fuchsia excorticta   Fuchshia procumbens  Gaultheria               Geniostoma ligustrifolium     Hebe              Hedycarya arborea               Hoheria populnea      Kunzea ericoides       Laurelia novae zelandiae     Lophomyrtus      Libocedrus plumosa    Leptospermum scoparium               Knightia excelsa    Macropiper excelsum     Meryta sinclarii          Melicope ternata     Melicope simplex      Melicytus ramiflorus          Metrosideros excelsa      Myoporum laetum     Myrsine australis    Nothofagus           Phormium tenax     Phyllocladus trichomanoides    Prumnopitys    Pittosporum              Pisonia brunonnianum    Podocarpus dacrydioides         Pratia physaloides  Planchonella costata      Pseudopanax    Pseudowintera colorata    Pomaderris kumarahou        Rhabdothamus solandri             Rhopalostylis sapida    Rubus           Schifflera digitata     Solanum aviculare      Sophora     Tecomanthe speciosa      Toronia toru            Vitex lucens        Weinmannia

Teachers and Students. Free educational resources

Slideshows ready to use in the classroom, or for student projects. Five slideshows that cover the special features of New Zealand plants with many examples of how plants are adapted to their environment.

Educational resources from here

To aid in identifying New Zealand native plants I recommend the following books 
 
 
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7924_ Pohutukawa_ Adams_ Diana_s - information identify

Hire a houseboat to enjoy New Zealand's natural world

Explore Whangaroa's beautiful native bush and natural harbour


Northland Panels by Colin McCahon
   

Hire a houseboat to enjoy New Zealand's natural world

 

100 Best NZ Native Plants for Gardens


The Reed Field Guide to New Zealand Native Trees


Trees and Shrubs of New Zealand


Gardener's Encyclopaedia of NZ Native Plants


A Photographic Guide to Ferns of New Zealand


N
ew Zealand Trees and Shrubs: A Comprehensive Guide to Cultivation and Identification


From Weta to Kauri: A Guide to the NZ Forest
Which Native Forest Plant? (Which S.)

  small logo

Native plant











 prints

Pohutukawa Diana Adams Art Print

Hand carved Bone, Jade, Wood & Pearl shell pendants, carvings, gifts & art from New Zealand

 

Hire a houseboat to enjoy New Zealand's natural world

The Big Book of Weekend Woodworking: 150 Easy Projects


Click to Vote


Whangaroa Logo_btn

nzcom_white


 

 
        

Hire a houseboat to enjoy New Zealand's natural world

Car Rental New Zealand Compare car rental prices in one easy system. Save time and money. Free online booking

 

 

 

Teachers and Students. Free educational resources

Slideshows ready to use in the classroom, or for student projects. Five slideshows that cover the special features of New Zealand plants with many examples of how plants are adapted to their environment.

Educational resources from here

 

 

 

 
 
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