Aciphylla crosby-smithii

Botanical name: Aciphylla crosby-smithii

Common name(s): Crosby-Smith’s Spaniard

Plant facts:

A rare alpine speargrass forming dense cushion-like clumps of rigid spiny foliage. This striking Fiordland endemic produces rounded creamy-white flower heads on stout fleshy stems and is highly adapted to exposed alpine conditions.

Natural habitat:

Found on exposed rocky slopes and short alpine snow tussock herbfields in low alpine environments.

Growing environment:

Frost, Wind, Cold & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

Endemic to southern Fiordland in the South Island, with possible occurrences in western Otago and nearby Fiordland regions.

Height:

Up to 40 cm tall in flower, forming cushions up to 60 cm wide

Flowering:

November – February
Produces rounded creamy-white flower heads on stout fleshy stems.

Fruiting:

December – March

Uses:

• Specialist alpine garden specimen
• Scree and rock garden planting
• Conservation and restoration collections

Appearance:

Growth habit:
A robust alpine herb forming dense cushion-like masses of tightly packed rosettes.

Leaves:
Leaves are stiff, broad, and sharply pointed with thickened yellowish margins and occasional reddish midribs. A distinctive feature is the leaves extending along the lower portion of the flowering stem.

Flowers:
Cream to white flowers are densely packed into rounded globe-shaped heads held above the foliage on grooved fleshy stems.

Fruit:
Produces winged dry fruits adapted for wind dispersal in exposed alpine habitats.

How to grow:

Requires full sun and excellent drainage. Best suited to cool alpine gardens, scree beds, and exposed rockeries. Extremely hardy to frost and snow but dislikes humid or poorly drained conditions.