Botanical name:

Libertia peregrinans

Common name(s):

Iris, Native Iris, New Zealand Iris

About:

Libertia Peregrinans is a vigorous and robust spreading grass-like plant that features fantastic bright-orange leaves and attractive white flowers during the spring and summer months. The vibrant orange colouring of the leaves becomes even more intense and pronounced when the plant is cultivated in harsh and challenging conditions. Additionally, the lovely foliage not only provides colour but also brightens and adds interest during the winter season, enhancing the garden's overall aesthetic.

Natural habitat:

A primarily coastal or lowland species of sandy, peaty or pumiceous soils. It may be found growing in dune slacks and swales, on the margins of swamps, in open poorly draining ground under scrub, and on the Chatham Islands within Sporadanthus dominated bogs. A distinctive upland form is known from the leaf litter within mainly beech forests, and what appears to have been this species once grew inland near Waiouru, on the Central Volcanic Plateau.

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun, Drought & Wind tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s North island from Piha (now historic) to Wellington & throughout the South, Stewart and Chatham Islands.

Height: 40cm

Flowering: 

October – January with a white or yellow coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

January - February

Uses:

Bee food, Flowers & Container friendly

How to grow:

Very easy from the division of whole plants. Can be grown from fresh seed which usually germinates quickly. An attractive and commonly cultivated species, popular because of its stunning dark orange foliage.

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