Vittadinia australis
Common names
white fuzzweed
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2023 | Not Threatened
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledonous composites
Flower colours
White, Yellow
Detailed description
Fine, spreading, prostrate to ascending, perennial herb, up to 30cm tall with stout root. Stems usually sparsely to densely clothed in long, white, erect hairs and glandular hairs, becoming hairless and woody towards the base. Leaves dull green, hairy, often 3- to 5-lobed, up to 1.5cm long. Flower heads small daisies, 1-1.5cm across, with white petals and yellow centres, occurring singly at branch tips. Seed heads spherical and fluffy.
Similar taxa
Introduced weedy Vittadinia gracilis and Vi. cuneata. V. australis has spreading white stem hairs and white flowers. The introduced species have purple flowers and tightly pressed stem hairs.
Distribution
Endemic. North and South Islands. Mainly in the drier eastern regions from Great Barrier Island south to Southland.
Habitat
In stony eroding tussock grassland, dry hill slopes, rock outcrops (including limestone, greywacke), riverbeds and stony places. Lowland through low-alpine zone to 1,500m.
Threats
Vittadinia australis has declined from large parts of its North Island range, and is now possibly extinct north of the Bay of Plenty. It has also declined from large parts of the south Wellington coast. In the South Island there is also some evidence of decline. The exact cause(s) of this observed decline is unclear but the spread of weeds, including introduced Vittadinia spp., and browsing animals are likely factors.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
None
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
October to June
Fruiting
November to August
Propagation technique
Easily grown from cuttings and fresh seed but can be hard to maintain in cultivation.
Other information
Etymology
vittadinia: Named after Dr. Carlo Vittadini (1800 - 20 November 1865), an Italian medical doctor and mycologist.
australis: Southern
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
VITAUS
Chromosome number
2n = 18, 36
Previous conservation statuses
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Not Threatened
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Data Deficient
Regional conservation statuses
Auckland: 2025 | Regionally Extirpated
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Auckland conservation status information is sourced from the “Conservation status of vascular plant species in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland” Simpkins E et al. (2025) report.
Otago: 2025 | Regionally At Risk – Regionally Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT, NR, NStr, Sp
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Otago conservation status information is sourced from the “Conservation Status of Indigenous Vascular Plants in Otago, 2025” Jarvie S et al. (2025) report.
Referencing and citations
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by P.J. de Lange for NZPCN (1 June 2013)
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Vittadinia australis Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/vittadinia-australis/ (Date website was queried)