puarangi

Hibiscus richardsonii | puarangi

A critically endangered striking short-lived perennial herb found in disturbed coastal sites of the northern North Island. Growing up to 1m tall, it's highly prized for its compact growth habit and conspicuously beautiful cream flowers, often accented with lemon-yellow petals and dark maroon centers, which bloom profusely from October through May, despite each flower lasting only a single day. Though best suited to open, sunny situations where it won't be outcompeted by taller weeds, Puarangi is an easy-to-cultivate plant ideal for mixed plantings, coastal, and cottage gardens, serving as an excellent filler for beds, pots, and planters. It forms a well-branched, compact mound of deeply lobed, dark green leaves, and produces inflated seed pods.