Botanical name:

Libertia grandiflora

Common name(s):

Mikoikoi Iris, Native Iris, New Zealand Iris

About:

A small plant, which is quite notable as the largest of all the New Zealand Libertia species, showcases an impressive appearance. It features stiff, sword-like green leaves that are elegantly accented with striking yellow tips. Throughout its blooming season, it produces attractive, iris-like white flowers, which are followed by decorative fruit that exhibits vibrant shades of orange and yellow. This lovely plant is particularly great for mass planting or various landscaping projects, adding both beauty and interest to gardens and outdoor spaces.

Natural habitat:

Coastal to montane. Usually in open, lowland forest remnants, forest margins, on steep slopes, ridge lines, bluffs, cliffs, stream banks, and river terraces.

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun & Wind tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s North Island; Te Paki to Wellington but seemingly absent from the Volcanic plateau.

Height: 60cm

Flowering: 

September – November with a white or yellow coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

December – April

Uses:

Flowers & Container friendly.

How to grow:

Easily grown from fresh seed and by the division of established plants, and tolerant of a wide range of situations - except permanently water logged soils. Libertia grandiflora is an attractive plant that deserves to be more widely cultivated that it is.

** Seed requires scarification and stratification before sowing. Hot water treatment followed by 4 weeks cold stratification works for this species.