New Zealand calceolaria

Jovellana sinclairii | New Zealand calceolaria

 

A delicate perennial shrub found usually along shady stream sides, cliff edges, and damp forest margins. Its soft, pale green leaves and clusters of white bell-shaped flowers, speckled purple inside, give it a character more like an English woodland plant than a typical New Zealand native. Flowering from late spring through summer, its arching stems often re-root where they touch the ground, forming graceful colonies.

In the garden, this species thrives in cool, moist, sheltered places and will reward with long displays of flowers. It is best suited to a shaded dell, damp border, or woodland-style planting where its delicate habit can be fully appreciated. Pruning in spring helps maintain a compact form.

cliff faces

streamsides

forest margins

well drained

moist

full shade

partial shade

height | 50cm

width | 60cm

flowering | October - February

fruiting | October - February

Although it once grew more widely, it is now in gradual decline in the wild. Planting it in gardens or restoration sites not only celebrates its beauty but also helps safeguard the future of this unusual and increasingly uncommon species.