Botanical name:

Aciphylla monroi

Common name(s):

Little speargrass

About:

A low-growing plant, reaching 20-35cm in height, with yellowish-green, needle-like leaves that form small clumps. The flowering stems carry flowers along their length, with the male plant’s flowers being whitish and the female’s yellowish-green. These flowers appear from spring to summer. Best suited to a rock garden or containers and in northern areas is best grown in partial shade.

Natural habitat:

Found in rocky outcrops and open snow-tussock grassland, in low alpine to high alpine areas.

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun, Drought & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s South Island, Nelson and Marlborough on the East of the Southern Alpes.

Height: 30cm

Flowering:

November - January with a cream or yellow coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

December – February

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food & Riparian plantings

How to grow:

Propagation is usually by seed, although cuttings can be taken from some smaller species.

** Seed germinates without pre treatment. Sow seed direct & keep moist until germination is complete.