Aciphylla horrida

Botanical name: Aciphylla horrida

Common name(s): Horrid Speargrass, Spaniard

Plant facts:

A formidable alpine speargrass forming huge clumps of rigid, sharply pointed foliage. Closely related to Aciphylla ferox, this species is distinguished by its heavily divided leaves that branch close to the base and its broad dramatic flowering stems.

Natural habitat:

Common in subalpine to low alpine snow tussock grasslands, herbfields, and scrub communities, especially in wetter western mountain regions.

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun, Wind & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

Endemic to the South Island of New Zealand, from Mount Uriah southwards, especially along the wetter western side of the Southern Alps.

Height:

Foliage clumps up to 1 m tall, flowering stems reaching approximately 1.5 m tall

Flowering:

November – January

Fruiting:

December – February

Uses:

• Architectural alpine feature plant
• Tussock and alpine restoration planting
• Specialist native collections
• Habitat plant for alpine ecosystems

Appearance:

Growth habit:
A massive bright green speargrass forming large solitary clumps or small colonies.

Leaves:
Leaves are thick, leathery, and sharply pointed with strong serrated margins. Unlike A. ferox, the leaves divide close to the base, giving the plant a fuller and more heavily armed appearance.

Flower stems:
Tall strongly grooved flowering stems carry broad dense inflorescences through much of their length. Male and female flower structures differ slightly, with female umbels generally more compact.

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 alpine gardens, scree slopes, and exposed dry landscapes. Extremely hardy to frost, wind, and snow but requires ample space due to its sharp spines and large mature size.