Botanical name:

Raoulia grandiflora

Common name(s):

Large-flowered mat daisy

About:

A beautiful and intriguing species that forms loose, spreading mats of pointed, silvery leaves that glisten in the sunlight. The striking white daisy flowers are relatively large, measuring up to 1.5cm across, and typically occur during the warm months of summer. This attractive plant is most commonly found in the unique subalpine to alpine regions that extend from the central North Island southward. It is best suited to thrive under the specialised conditions found in an alpine house and is known for being of very limited availability in nature.

Natural habitat:

Upper montane to alpine. Usually amongst rocks and fell-field, rarely in ablation zones within herb-field.

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun, Wetland, Wind & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s North and South Islands from Mt Hikurangi south.

Height: 5cm

Flowering: 

October - January with a cream to white coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

December - May

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food & Riparian plantings

How to grow:

Difficult – Best suited to a specialist alpine grower & should never be removed from the wild

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