Parataniwha ‘hides’ under bridge

Elatostema rugosum, sometimes referred to as New Zealand begonia, is a herbaceous native groundcover belonging to the nettle family Urticaceae.

Endemic to the North Island, its natural range spans from North Cape to the Tararua Range, also Kapiti Island.

It is more commonly known by its given te reo Māori name, parataniwha. That roughly translates to “home of the taniwha”, which interestingly, is perhaps a reflection of the natural habitat where this plant grows - in damp, shaded lowland forest areas and gullies, at the base of waterfalls and alongside waterways.

Parataniwha has beautifully wrinkled and heavily serrated foliage with prominent veins, mainly green in colour with brilliant hues of red and purple.

If you are looking to add a beautiful and easy-care native groundcover to your home garden, parataniwha will grow successfully in the South providing it has the right growing conditions.

The foliage is frost tender, prone to slug and snail damage so strategic planting is advised. If exposed to too much sun and heat it will wilt and eventually die.

At the Dunedin Botanic Garden, there is a large healthy patch of parataniwha growing underneath the bridge by the boardwalk stairs in the rhododendron dell. Here it creates a magical underplanting for the native tree ferns. It is the perfect place for a taniwha to hide.

Parataniwha can be easily propagated by cuttings or division and is occasionally available for purchase from specialist native plant nurseries.

Garden Life is produced by Dunedin Botanic Garden. For further information contact Stephanie Sinton.