Every true thing on our cards, and where it comes from.

Home-grown

The words under each drawing, as printed, then where they come from.

1. Pōhutukawa

In flower around Christmas on northern coasts, its crimson brushes feed tūī, and even bats and geckos.

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Pōhutukawa, https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/metrosideros-excelsa/

Department of Conservation, Pōhutukawa, https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/pohutukawa/

New Zealand Birds Online, Tūī, https://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/tui

Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Tall broadleaf trees, https://teara.govt.nz/en/tall-broadleaf-trees/print

Department of Conservation blog, From bare to blooming: the story of the world's largest pōhutukawa forest, https://blog.doc.govt.nz/2020/12/23/from-bare-to-blooming-the-story-of-the-worlds-largest-pohutukawa-forest/

2. Flax · Harakeke

For centuries its long leaves have been woven into kete, mats and cloaks. Tūī drink from its tall flower stalks.

Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Flax and flax working, https://teara.govt.nz/en/flax-and-flax-working

Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Feeding on flax flowers, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10374/feeding-on-flax-flowers

Department of Conservation, Harakeke/flax, https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/harakeke-flax/

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Flax · Harakeke, https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/phormium-tenax/

Te Papa, Māori weaving, https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/discover-collections/read-watch-play/maori/maori-weaving

Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Māori weaving, https://teara.govt.nz/en/maori-weaving-and-tukutuku-te-raranga-me-te-whatu/print

3. Cabbage tree · Tī kōuka

A familiar sight on farmland and in swamps, crowned in spring or early summer with great sprays of sweet-scented white flowers.

Department of Conservation, Cabbage tree/tī kōuka, https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/cabbage-tree-ti-kouka/

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Cabbage tree · Tī kōuka, https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/cordyline-australis/

Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Shrubs and small trees, https://teara.govt.nz/en/shrubs-and-small-trees-of-the-forest/print

Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Tī kōuka, New Zealand cabbage tree, a photograph, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/13829/ti-kouka-new-zealand-cabbage-tree

4. Kōwhai

Golden flowers from late winter bring tūī, korimako and kererū, and tell New Zealand that spring is on its way.

Department of Conservation, Kōwhai, https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/kowhai/

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Small-leaved kōwhai, https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/sophora-microphylla/

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Large-leaved kōwhai, https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/sophora-tetraptera/

Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Signs of the seasons, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/2665/signs-of-the-seasons

5. Mānuka

A hardy shrub, often first to cover bare ground. Bees turn the nectar of its white flowers into honey.

Department of Conservation, Mānuka/kahikātoa and kānuka, https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/manuka-kahikatoa-and-kanuka/

Te Papa, Mānuka and kānuka, https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/topic/2988

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Mānuka, https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/leptospermum-scoparium-var-scoparium/

Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Forest succession, https://teara.govt.nz/en/forest-succession-and-regeneration/print

Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Beekeeping, https://teara.govt.nz/en/beekeeping/print

6. Kawakawa

Look for the holes in its heart-shaped leaves. They are the work of the kawakawa looper moth's caterpillar.

Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, Kawakawa looper, https://interestinginsects.landcareresearch.co.nz/taxa/78a328fd-10e7-4fa4-a8e4-39dcd4eb804c

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Kawakawa, https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/piper-excelsum-subsp-excelsum/

Te Papa, Kawakawa, https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/topic/2991

Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Shrubs and small trees, https://teara.govt.nz/en/shrubs-and-small-trees-of-the-forest/print

Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, Kawakawa looper, https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/tools-and-resources/identification/what-is-this-bug/kawakawa-looper

7. Silver fern · Ponga

Each new frond unfurls from a tight coil, the koru. Young ferns are green underneath, turning silvery white as they grow.

Te Papa, What is the silver fern?, https://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2014/02/02/the-silver-fern-what-is-it/

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Silver fern · Ponga, https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/alsophila-dealbata/

Te Papa, The significance of the silver fern, https://tepapa.govt.nz/discover-collections/read-watch-play/ferns-new-zealand-and-pacific/significance-silver-fern

Department of Conservation, Silver fern factsheet, https://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/getting-involved/students-and-teachers/native-tree-factsheets/silver-fern-info-sheet.pdf

8. Nīkau

New Zealand's only native palm, and the world's most southerly, reaching Banks Peninsula and the Chatham Islands.

Department of Conservation, Nīkau palm, https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/nikau-palm/

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Nīkau, https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/rhopalostylis-sapida/

Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 1966, Nikau palm, https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/nikau-palm

Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Tall broadleaf trees, https://teara.govt.nz/en/tall-broadleaf-trees/print

9. Kauri

Kauri forest once covered much of the north. Most was milled, and the greatest trees left now stand in Northland's Waipoua Forest.

Department of Conservation, Kauri, https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/kauri/

Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Kauri forest, https://teara.govt.nz/en/kauri-forest

Department of Conservation, Tāne Mahuta Walk, Waipoua Forest, https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/northland/places/waipoua-forest/things-to-do/tane-mahuta-walk/

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Kauri, https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/agathis-australis/

10. Kākābeak · Ngutukākā

Named for scarlet flowers curved like a kākā's beak. Common in gardens, yet critically rare in the wild.

Department of Conservation, Kākābeak/ngutukākā, https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/kakabeak/

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Kākābeak · Ngutukākā, the northern species, https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/clianthus-puniceus/

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Kākābeak · Ngutukākā, https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/clianthus-maximus/

11. Mount Cook buttercup

The world's largest buttercup, also known as the Mount Cook lily. It flowers white in the mountains from Marlborough to Stewart Island.

Department of Conservation, Mount Cook buttercup, https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/mount-cook-buttercup/

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Mount Cook buttercup, https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/ranunculus-lyallii/

Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Mt Cook lily, a photograph, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/14318/mt-cook-lily

12. Chatham Island forget-me-not

Found wild only on the Chatham Islands, where its huge glossy leaves and blue flowers grow beside the sea.

Department of Conservation, Chatham Island forget-me-not, https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/chatham-island-forget-me-not/

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Chatham Island forget-me-not, https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/myosotidium-hortensia/