nz native birth flowers
Typically, when you hear someone talk about birth flowers, they’re referring to ones that aren’t specific to New Zealand.
While there is no set ‘list’ of NZ native birth flowers, the list below I’ve researched and worked on for a very long time to ensure it represents our country to the best of my ability. I have ‘ummed and ahhed’ about this list and the imagery for almost four years now. I’ve been through multiple variations, drawing styles and attempts to ensure it best represents the flora and fauna we all know and love.
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JANUARY'S NATIVE BIRTH FLOWER
Mānuka (Leptospermum)
The Mānuka tree has an abundance of little white or pink flowers. It blooms for only two to six weeks each year, usually flowering somewhere between September and February. Some flowers are only open for five days, meaning those bees need to work fast to get the nectar for Mānuka honey!
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FEBRUARY'S NATIVE BIRTH FLOWER
Harakeke (Common Flax)
Harakeke flowers between the end of October and February. The flower stalks can grow to four or five metres tall. The blooms of Harakeke stand upright from the stems, and the colour varies from yellow to a rich red or vibrant orange.
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MARCH'S NATIVE BIRTH FLOWER
Karaka (Corynocarpus Laevigatus)
The Karaka tree grows up to 15 metres tall, with glossy, thick leaves and oval-shaped berries. Berries appear in summer and autumn, from January to April. While the fruit is safe for humans, the kernel is poisonous and highly toxic to dogs.
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APRIL'S NATIVE BIRTH FLOWER
Kōwhai (Sophora Molloyi)
Kōwhai usually flowers in late winter to early spring, but the Sophora Molloyi variant blooms early. The sunshine-yellow flowers can be seen dangling between April and October. This specific Kōwhai also keeps its leaves year-round.
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MAY'S NATIVE BIRTH FLOWER
Silver Fern (Alsophila Dealbata)
New Zealand’s evergreen Silver Fern is pretty iconic and well-known around the world. The fronds symbolise new life and growth. Each frond unfurls to reveal a stunning green fern that, when turned over, has a silvery-white colour underneath. Each fern can be as large as a metre wide and three metres long!
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JUNE'S NATIVE BIRTH FLOWER
Pūriri (Vitex Lucens)
A Pūriri tree can grow to be up to 20 metres tall. It’s evergreen too, and while some Pūriri bloom year-round, it’s mostly seen during the winter months between May and August. The pink-red flowers are seen in clusters of up to 12 at the tips of the branches.
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JULY'S NATIVE BIRTH FLOWER
Puawānanga (Clematis Paniculata)
The Puawānanga generally flowers between late July and November. Because it’s a climbing vine, it has a sprawling array of large white flowers. Each flower has between six and eight petals and can be up to 10 centimetres in size.
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AUGUST'S NATIVE BIRTH FLOWER
Kākābeak (Clianthus Maximus)
The ruby red flowers ofKākābeak hang in large clusters of 15-20! The shrub gets its name because the flowers resemble the beaks of the native Kākā bird. Blooming between August and November, they mark the end of winter and the dawn of spring.
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SEPTEMBER'S NATIVE BIRTH FLOWER
Kopakopa - Chatham Island forget-me-nots (Myosotidium Hortensia)
The Chatham Island forget-me-not has long stems with large, glossy leaves and small, mostly blue flowers in clusters. The flowering window is only two months each year, in September and October. Kopakopa predominantly grows in rocky areas, favouring coastal cliffs and the back of boulder beaches. The plants can also be found at the entrance of coastal forests.
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OCTOBER'S NATIVE BIRTH FLOWER
Mount Cook Buttercup (Ranunculus Lyallii)
Mount Cook Buttercup is the world’s largest buttercup and is found in the alpine areas of New Zealand. It was previously known as the Mount Cook Lily because the leaves resemble a lily. Between October and January, the large white flowers are in full bloom across the mountains.
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NOVEMBER'S NATIVE BIRTH FLOWER
Kōtukutuku (Fuchsia Excorticata)
New Zealand’s tree fuchsia is the largest of the fuchsia family, growing to be up to 12 metres tall. The flowers are seen between August and December. They begin as green buds and as they bloom, transition through bright reds, pinks and purples.
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DECEMBER'S NATIVE BIRTH FLOWER
Pōhutukawa (Metrosideros Excelsa)
A Pōhutukawa tree grows in a dome shape and can be up to 12 metres tall. It’s affectionately known to Kiwis as New Zealand’s Christmas tree. The stunning red flowers bloom from Christmas through to March, brightening our coastal areas in summer.
