Dobson’s Speargrass

Botanical name: Aciphylla dobsonii

Common name(s): Dobson’s Speargrass

Plant facts:

A compact alpine speargrass forming dense cushion-like masses of rigid spiny foliage. This hardy high-country species is specially adapted to harsh exposed ridge environments and develops a deep taproot for survival in unstable alpine scree and fellfield habitats.

Natural habitat:

Found in exposed alpine fellfields and ridge crests, especially on greywacke mountain ranges.

Growing environment:

Frost, Wind, Snow & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

Endemic to the South Island of New Zealand, from south Canterbury to northern Otago.

Height:

Rosettes up to 15 cm wide, flowering stems reaching around 30 cm tall

Flowering:

December – January

Fruiting:

February – March

Uses:

• Alpine scree garden specimen
• Specialist native alpine collections
• Structural cushion plant for exposed rock gardens

Appearance:

Growth habit:
A stocky alpine herb forming tightly packed rosettes that create dense cushion-like clumps up to 1 metre across.

Leaves:
Leaves are rigid, leathery, and sharply pointed with thickened margins. The foliage forms dense defensive rosettes close to the ground.

Roots:
Develops a large, deep taproot that anchors the plant in unstable alpine soils and scree slopes.

Flowers:
Short stout flowering stems carry tightly clustered flower heads above the foliage.

Fruit:
Produces narrow winged fruits adapted for wind dispersal in exposed mountain habitats.

How to grow:

A difficult species to cultivate successfully. Requires extremely free-draining alpine scree conditions, full sun, and cool dry environments. Deep taproots make transplanting challenging, and plants dislike humid or poorly drained soils.