Ourisia caespitosa
NZ Creeping Mountain Foxglove.
Lovely little flat growing plant for the rock garden or similar. It is handsome and easy to grow but somewhat harder to induce flowering in cultivation compared to the profusion of flowers in alpine areas.
It will grow in well drained, gritty, soil with well rotted organic matter in a cool southern aspect or open slightly shady places which are similar to that it would grow in the wild. Botanically its name caespitose means mat forming.
Flowers are bright white with a yellow throat about 2 cm across with broad lobes giving the impression of a much larger flower. They usually flower in pairs on an erect 10 cm peduncle (stem).
In the wild it grows in broad matted, or sometimes loose, patches about 50 cm across. Easily identified by its small, opposite, bright green leaves with three notches on each edge of the leaf. In spring and early summer its wonderful flowers are easily spotted in November to February.
It can be found on all three main islands. In the North Island from Mt Hikurangi southwards excluding Mt Taranaki, all of the South Island and Stewart Island from lower mountains to high alpine areas. It can be found in a variety of habitats including damp and/or shady rocky sites, along stream banks, bluffs and rocky faces as well as fellfields and snowfields. From 700 m to 1800 m.
Ourisia has 14 species in New Zealand and all would make fine garden plants. They can be propagated b seed or division.
Lovely little flat growing plant for the rock garden or similar. It is handsome and easy to grow but somewhat harder to induce flowering in cultivation compared to the profusion of flowers in alpine areas.
It will grow in well drained, gritty, soil with well rotted organic matter in a cool southern aspect or open slightly shady places which are similar to that it would grow in the wild. Botanically its name caespitose means mat forming.
Flowers are bright white with a yellow throat about 2 cm across with broad lobes giving the impression of a much larger flower. They usually flower in pairs on an erect 10 cm peduncle (stem).
In the wild it grows in broad matted, or sometimes loose, patches about 50 cm across. Easily identified by its small, opposite, bright green leaves with three notches on each edge of the leaf. In spring and early summer its wonderful flowers are easily spotted in November to February.
It can be found on all three main islands. In the North Island from Mt Hikurangi southwards excluding Mt Taranaki, all of the South Island and Stewart Island from lower mountains to high alpine areas. It can be found in a variety of habitats including damp and/or shady rocky sites, along stream banks, bluffs and rocky faces as well as fellfields and snowfields. From 700 m to 1800 m.
Ourisia has 14 species in New Zealand and all would make fine garden plants. They can be propagated b seed or division.