Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

small native plants

Small native plants are an ideal choice for New Zealand gardens, offering unique beauty and environmental benefit in compact forms. Whether you’re gardening in a tiny backyard, filling gaps in a border, or creating a native groundcover area, choosing small native plants helps celebrate Aotearoa’s rich biodiversity while supporting local wildlife. These hardy species are adapted to New Zealand’s conditions, making them low-maintenance and resilient choices for both beginner and experienced gardeners.

Sophora microphylla specimen tree covered in yellow flowers.

Sophora microphylla (Small Leaved Kōwhai)

Sophora microphylla, commonly known as Weeping Kowhai, is a treasured New Zealand native tree admired for its graceful, drooping branches and masses of golden yellow flowers in spring. This semi-evergreen species is highly attractive to native birds such as tui and bellbirds, which feed on its nectar. Elegant, hardy, and versatile, the Weeping Kowhai is a stunning addition to both gardens and larger landscapes.

Buy Sophora microphylla (Small Leaved Kōwhai)

From $28.91

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Trees

Height: 10.00 m

Spread: 6.00 m

Flowering time: Spring

Tolerances: Hardy, Wet, Wind

Garden uses: Parks, Ponds, Screening, Specimen

Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Native

Kunzea robusta

Kunzea robusta (White Tea Tree) is a fast growing NZ native tree known for its fine foliage and masses of small white flowers that attract bees and pollinators. This hardy plant thrives in a wide range of conditions and is ideal for shelter, revegetation, and feature planting. It brings a natural look and strong ecological value to gardens and landscapes.

Buy Kunzea robusta

From $8.97

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Trees

Height: 8.00 m

Spread: 4.00 m

Flowering time: Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wet, Wind

Garden uses: Hedging, Ponds, Screening

Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Formal, Frontyard, Mediterranean, Modern, Native, Riparian

Why Choose Small Native Plants?

Opting for small native plants brings a host of advantages. Their compact size makes them perfect for urban gardens, courtyards, or as accents in larger native landscapes. Many act as groundcovers, suppressing weeds, reducing erosion, and retaining moisture in the soil. By selecting small native plants, you also help preserve New Zealand’s unique flora and foster habitats for native birds, lizards, and insects.

Favourite Small Native Groundcovers

Groundcover species thrive with minimal care, offering lush foliage and often charming flowers. Pratia angulata, for instance, features tiny star-shaped flowers and glossy green leaves, forming a dense mat ideal for shaded spots or between paving stones. Another excellent choice is Leptinella dioica (Bachelors Buttons): its fern-like foliage and yellow-green button flowers make it a playful groundcover. For stunning colour, Leptinella pusilla (Purple Brass Buttons) offers purple-bronze tones and delicate texture, perfect for edging or filling in difficult spots.

Explore Leptospermum Wairere for a sprawling groundcover with silvery foliage and small white flowers, creating an attractive native carpet for banks or retaining walls. These species all suit rock gardens, around stepping stones, or as low borders, and thrive in New Zealand’s changing climate.

Compact Shrubs and Small Trees

Small native plants aren’t limited to groundcovers — compact shrubs and smaller trees can work wonders as feature plants, informal hedges, or container displays. Sophora microphylla (Small Leaved Kōwhai) is a great example, offering fine foliage and showy clusters of yellow flowers that attract tūī and bellbirds in spring. Its small size and elegant branching make it an ideal choice for smaller properties or for growing in a pot on the patio.

Using Small Native Plants in Your Garden

Small native plants are incredibly versatile. Mass plant them for a modern, low-maintenance look, weave them between larger trees, or use them as living mulch under taller species. They fit beautifully in cottage gardens, naturalistic landscaping, or to soften paths and patios. Best of all, small native plants require less watering and fertiliser, reducing your garden’s impact and providing a truly local habitat.

Start Your Native Garden Today

Inviting small native plants into your garden isn’t just about looks; it’s about creating a resilient, uniquely New Zealand landscape. From Pratia angulata and Leptinella dioica (Bachelors Buttons) to Sophora microphylla (Small Leaved Kōwhai) and Leptinella pusilla (Purple Brass Buttons), there are small native plants to suit every space. Discover our range and bring a touch of native charm to your home, one small but mighty plant at a time.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

small native plants

Sophora microphylla (Small Leaved Kōwhai)

Kunzea robusta

Did you find what you are looking for?

Why Choose Small Native Plants?

Favourite Small Native Groundcovers

Compact Shrubs and Small Trees

Using Small Native Plants in Your Garden

Start Your Native Garden Today

Contact us

Explore Garden Inspiration

small native plants

Sophora microphylla (Small Leaved Kōwhai)

Kunzea robusta

Did you find what you are looking for?

Why Choose Small Native Plants?

Favourite Small Native Groundcovers

Compact Shrubs and Small Trees

Using Small Native Plants in Your Garden

Start Your Native Garden Today

Contact us

Explore Garden Inspiration

Free shipping on orders over $150!