Botanical name:

Gingidia montana 

Common name(s):

Mountain aniseed, New Zealand aniseed

About:

This species reaches a height of 50 cm and features long, shiny green pinnate leaves with finely serrated edges. Sturdy flower stems support umbels of small white flowers during spring and summer. Its distribution is localised in the lower North Island and is sporadic in the alpine regions of the South Island. In rock gardens, it thrives best in well-drained soil, positioned in full sun or light shade.

Natural habitat: 

Lowland to subalpine up to 1300m. Formerly widespread in open grassland, shrub-land and along river banks now largely confined to cliffs, rock outcrops and seepages above roadsides - in places largely free from or completely free of browsing animals.

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun, Wind & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s North and South Islands. In the North Island now extremely scarce but formerly said to have occurred from about Kawhia and the southern Hawkes Bay south to the Wairarapa. It is rarely seen now in this area. In the South Island widespread throughout the island.

Height: 50cm

Flowering:  

August - May with a brown/yellow coloured flower/s  

Fruiting:

October – June

Uses: 

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food & Riparian plantings

How to grow:

Easily grown. Probably the most widely grown and easily cultivated species. It tolerates humidity and does well in full sun or shade, though it prefers a fertile, well drained, moist soil.

** Seed germinates without pre treatment. 4 weeks cold stratification will help speed this up though