Botanical name:

Leptinella rotundata

Common name(s):

About:

This mat-forming plant features small, rounded leaves that exhibit a beautiful bluish-green hue. The vibrant colour adds a unique touch to any garden setting or landscape design.

Natural habitat:

Coastal cliff faces and boulder falls. Occupies a very specific habitat, i.e. preferring the wind and salt-blasted margins of vegetated cliff faces, where other competing plants are held in check. Typically sparse and patchy in its distribution at any given site.

Growing environment:

Sun, Wind, Salt, Coastal & free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s North Island. Known only from the west coast from the Waitakere Ranges to Scott’s Point, Te Paki.

Height: 1-2cm

Flowering: 

August to January (but sporadic flowering can occur at any time of the year) with a green – brown coloured flower/s 

Fruiting:
October to April (but fruiting material can be found at any time of the year)

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food & Ground cover

How to grow:

Very easily grown by division of established plants. In the wild female plants occur in isolation from “males” so seed set is minimal, and restriction to hermaphroditic flowers on “male” plants. For this reason most plants in cultivation are raised from division of larger individuals. In cultivation this species is often short-lived and benefits from regular division to keep plants vigorous.