Ōtari-raised rare plants on show
Staff gardener Lucy Williams with rātā Moehau seedlingsCome check out some of New Zealand’s rarest plants. At Ōtari Open Day, September 19, there will be ‘Behind the Scenes’ tours showcasing the many rare plants raised in Ōtari’s Nursery, guided by the talented staff who raise them. Provenance of rare native plants, as in sourcing cuttings and seeds from wild populations, along with working with mana whenua, are key elements of the native plant care at Ōtari. Rātā Moehau (Metrosideros bartlettii) is a case in point. Only 13 of these white flowering rātā trees are known to remain in the wild, in the Far North. They are taonga of Ngāti Kuri, who have gifted cuttings to the care of Ōtari. Cook Strait mahoe, Melicytus orarius, is another example. Taputeranga motu (in Island Bay) is a stronghold for this rare mahoe, which is pollinated by geckos and difficult to germinate. You’ll find several healthy seedlings raised in the Ōtari nursery. 
Corybas iridescensAlso in the nursery is Pterostylis tristis, one of two native ‘Greenhood’ orchids that have multiple flowers off the stem. It grows in tussock grasslands, intermontane basins and along river flats and is currently rated ‘At Risk – Declining’. Another orchid is Corybas iridescens, found throughout New Zealand but considered difficult to propagate. Remember, you can meet these and other special plants on a behind the scenes tour, at Open Day. See you there, 10am to 2pm.
Posted: 7 September 2026
