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Kōwhai ngutu-kākā crowned winner of 2023 Favourite Native Plant vote

Kōwhai ngutu-kākāin flower. Photo: Malcolm RutherfordThat’s it folks, it’s a wrap! Over the last month you have cast your votes, created your memes, and battled it out for your favorite plant! Only one plant could win, and this year’s winner of the favorite plant of 2023 is Clianthus maximus (kōwhai ngutu-kākā)! Massive congratulations to everyone voting and campaigning for this beautiful plant. Clianthus maximus has spent the last month in the top 10 and the majority of that time battling it out for first place, showing how much we love this plant and its beautiful flowers.

This rare shrub produces an abundance of drooping bright red flowers which turn into pea like pods. Not a surprise it is in the Fabaceae (Pea) family. It can be found growing on the East Coast of the North Island from Te Araroa south to the northern Hawkes Bay and east to the Te Urewera National Park. Though this plant is common in gardens and plant nurseries due to its vibrant flowers, it is rare in the wild and ranked as Nationally Critical. This species has many threats from browsing animals to erosion and fire.

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network (NZPCN) has been running the favourite plant vote since 2002 with winners in all shapes and sizes. The purpose of the vote is to find out why New Zealanders love their native plants and help raise a greater awareness and appreciation of native plants.

New Zealand has around 2500 native vascular plants, 82% are endemic to NZ, and unfortunately, more than 45% of native vascular plants are threatened or at risk of extinction. Unfortunately, our indigenous plants lack legal protection and so spreading awareness about our native flora and especially threatened species is an important first step for many species survival.

Manuhune gentian was passionately campaigned for and a strong contender for the 2023 favourite plant vote. Photo: Hermann FrankWhat an interesting vote it has been with a strong battle for the top 10 with many changes almost daily. The top ten has been a blend of iconic species such as the big blue flower heads of Myosotidium hortensia (kopakopa, Chatham Island forget-me-not) the fireworks of Metrosideros excelsa (pōhutukawa) and the beautiful red kākā beaks of Clianthus maximus (kōwhai ngutu-kākā).

Among these well-known bright and vibrant flowers have been a great diversity of native plants. Like Zostera muelleri subsp. novozelandica (Seagrass) that can be found submerged in our estuaries and the rootless Wolffia australiana (water-meal) that can be found floating in our wetlands throughout Aotearoa. Another newcomer is the lichen, Aptrootia elatior, this is the first time a lichen has been in the top 10 for the NZPCN favourite plant vote. At the last minute Urtica ferox also swooped in to take 10th place, a plant that demands respect and is so stranger to the top 10.

We have had great engagement in the vote and here is some of your wonderful comments about why people have voted for their favourite plant

• Myosotidium hortensium “Kopakopa is an amazingly beautiful rakau, worthy of aroha & protection.” - Mona
• Zostera muelleri subsp. Novozelandica “Very important for marine carbon sequestration and habitats, and a beautiful plant in its own right.” - Paul
• Ranunculus lyallii “This plant is the antithesis of what an alpine plant is expected to look like with its large leaves and flowers, yet it survives very well high in the mountains. The flowers are magnificent. Once seen, never forgotten.” - John
• Wolffia australiana “Smallest plant in the world… what else is there to say.” - Max
• Clianthus maximus “Rich vibrant colour amazing flower shape blooms at exactly the right time and it makes me smile” - Margaret
• Clianthus maximus “I wanted to vote for a threatened species and help promote awareness of this and other threatened species” - Fiona

Lady’s tresses orchid (Spiranthese australis) steamed into 7th place out of nowhere in the last days of the vote. Photo: Jeremy RolfeHere are the top ten species you voted this years favourite plant 2023:

1. Clianthus maximus
2. Zostera muelleri subsp. novazelandica
3. Gentianella calcis subsp. manahune
4. Fuchsia excorticata
5. Metrosideros excelsa
6. Aptrootia elatior
7. Spiranthes australis
8. Ficinia spiralis
9. Wolffia australiana
10. Urtica ferox

Previous years winners are listed here.

Thank you to everyone who campaigned and voted this year. We will be back again next year so watch this space!

Posted: 16/12/2023