Botanical name:

Libertia ixioides

Common name(s):

Iris, Mikoikoi, Native Iris, Tukauki

About:

A small native New Zealand glass plant features stiff, sword-like leaves that are tinged with a vibrant yellow and rich green hue. It produces attractive, delicate small white flowers, which are later followed by decorative seed pods that are orange-yellow in colour. This species is known for being versatile, easy to grow, and remarkably hardy, making it an excellent choice for a variety of gardens and landscapes.

Natural habitat:

Coastal to montane. Often locally common on ridges, cliffs, gullies, river banks, coastal cliffs, and upland forest. It has been recorded as epiphytic in some northern sites.

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun & Wind tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s North, South and Stewart Islands.

Height: 40cm

Flowering: 

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

Fruiting:

January - December

Uses:

Bee food, Flowers & Container friendly.

How to grow:

Easily grown from fresh seed and by the division of established plants. Very forgiving and tolerant of a wide range of situations. Next to Libertia peregrinans, L. ixioides is the most widely cultivated of the New Zealand Libertia. Forms with highly coloured foliage are now especially popular.

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