Māori Onion

Botanical name: Bulbinella angustifolia
Synonyms: Bulbinella hookeri var. angustifolia
Common name(s): Māori onion

About:
A striking clump-forming perennial herb endemic to the eastern South Island of New Zealand. Noted for its narrow grass-like foliage and tall spikes of bright yellow flowers, this species commonly inhabits damp tussock grasslands and wetlands.

Natural habitat:
Damp tussock grasslands, bog margins, seepages, wetlands and moist open ground from lowland to subalpine areas.

Growing environment:
Thrives in cool moist environments with permanently damp but free-draining soils. Performs best in full sun or light shade and tolerates frost and exposed alpine conditions.

Distribution:
Endemic to the South Island of New Zealand from Canterbury south through Otago and Southland, primarily east of the Main Divide.

Height:
Up to 1 m tall in flower

Width:
30–60 cm wide

Growth habit:
Dense clump-forming perennial herb arising from fleshy rhizomes and gradually forming spreading colonies.

Foliage:
Leaves narrow, linear, channelled and bright green, smooth surfaced and somewhat fleshy, arising in dense basal tufts.

Flowers:
Dense upright flower spikes bearing numerous small star-shaped yellow flowers arranged in cylindrical racemes above the foliage.

Flower colours:
Yellow

Flowering:
Spring – early summer

Fruiting:
Summer

Fruit:
Small capsules containing winged seeds adapted for wind dispersal.

Ecology:
An important component of damp tussock grassland and wetland ecosystems, providing seasonal nectar resources for insects and contributing to alpine and subalpine biodiversity.

Uses:

• Wetland restoration
• Bog gardens
• Damp native plantings
• Alpine and tussock gardens
• Naturalistic meadow plantings
• Erosion control in moist areas

Cultivation:
Best grown in permanently moist fertile soils with good drainage. Tolerates frost and cool climates well but performs poorly in hot dry conditions. Suitable for wetland margins and bog gardens.

Propagation:
Usually propagated from fresh seed or by division of established clumps. Seed germinates readily in moist conditions and plants establish steadily in suitable wet habitats.

Garden value:
An excellent native perennial for wetland and naturalistic gardens, valued for its bold yellow flower spikes, tidy grassy foliage and suitability for cool moist planting conditions.