Linear Astelia

Botanical name: Astelia linearis
Common name(s): Linear Astelia

About:
A distinctive low-growing astelia forming dense mats and patches of fine arching foliage. This elegant wetland and alpine species is recognised for its narrow silver-green leaves, woolly-scaled undersides, and translucent red berries.

Natural habitat:
Occurs naturally in alpine and subalpine wetlands, peat bogs, seepages, damp herbfields, and humus-rich mountain soils.

Growing environment:
Full sun to partial shade, Moist soils, Peaty soils & Cool climates.
Thrives in permanently moist humus-rich soils with good airflow and cool root conditions.

Endemic distribution:
Endemic to New Zealand.
Found mainly in mountainous regions of the South Island, with Astelia linearis var. novae-zelandiae occurring in the North Island.

Height:
Approximately 0.05–0.22 m tall

Width:
Forms spreading mats and colonies over time

Flowering:
Spring to summer
Produces greenish-yellow flowers from November to February.

Fruiting:
Summer to autumn
Clear red fleshy berries mature from December to March.

Uses:

• Alpine and bog gardens
• Wetland planting
• Peat garden displays
• Groundcover planting
• Specialist native collections
• Rock and trough gardens

Appearance:

Growth habit:
A low-growing mat-forming perennial with fine upright to arching foliage.

Leaves:
Leaves are narrow, grass-like, and silver-green with woolly dark-scaled undersides. Margins and tips often bear shaggy scales.

Flowers:
Small greenish-yellow flowers carried on short erect panicles.

Fruit:
Produces elongated translucent red fleshy berries containing glossy black seeds.

Ecology:
An important alpine wetland species contributing structure and seasonal food resources within bogs, seepages, and damp mountain herbfields.

Associated habitats:
Often associated with peat bogs, alpine seepages, wet herbfields, and humus-rich subalpine vegetation.

How to grow:
Best planted in cool moist conditions with permanently damp but free-draining peaty soil. Suitable for bog gardens, alpine troughs, and cool rock gardens.

Propagation:
Can be propagated from fresh seed or by division of established colonies.

Garden value:
A refined and unusual native astelia valued for its fine grassy texture, silvery foliage, and brilliant translucent berries. Particularly effective in alpine wetlands, bog gardens, and specialist native plant collections.