Te Puna Renga Renga Lily

Te Puna Renga Renga Lily (Arthropodium cirratum 'Te Puna') is a compact selection of the New Zealand rock lily, forming an evergreen clump of soft green strappy leaves 40 to 50cm high and wide. In late spring it sends up short sprays of white starry flowers. It is narrower and neater than the larger forms of the species, which makes it the one to choose for edging, small gardens and tight spots in shade.

Why you'll love it

• Compact and tidy. The clump stays about half a metre across, with shorter flower sprays that sit just above the foliage.
• Thrives in shade. It is at its best in shade to part shade, where the soft leaves stay lush and unmarked.
• Handles dry shade. Once established it copes with the dry, root-filled soil under trees where little else grows.
• White spring flowers. Airy sprays of small white stars lighten a dark corner in late spring.
• Suits the coast. It tolerates coastal conditions and salt-laden air.

Where it works best

Edging shaded paths. Plant 40cm apart for a continuous soft border along a path or the front of a bed.

Under trees. Mass plant at 40cm apart beneath established trees for an evergreen groundcover that needs little attention.

Pots and courtyards. Its small size suits containers on a shaded patio or balcony, alone or under a taller feature plant.

Growing Te Puna Renga Renga Lily in Australia

Position and climate. Shade to part shade, with morning sun at most. Hot afternoon sun scorches the leaves. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and tolerates light frost only. In frosty districts plant it under trees or eaves for protection.

Soil. Free-draining soil with some compost dug in. It grows in sandy and rocky soil and dislikes heavy ground that stays wet.

Water and feed. Water regularly through the first summer. After that it needs watering only in long dry spells. Feed in early spring with a slow-release fertiliser.

Pruning. Cut the spent flower stems off at the base and pull away old or damaged leaves. Snails and slugs love it and will shred the foliage, so check after rain and control them from the day you plant. Divide large clumps in autumn if you want more plants.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Te Puna Renga Renga Lily in 140mm pots in packs of 10 and 200mm pots in packs of 6. The soft leaves can crease in transit and the plants straighten within a week or two. Plant into shade, water in well and put snail protection down straight away. Our growers do not hold every size all year, so a size can show as on backorder at times. An order for a backorder size is confirmed with you before anything ships.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Grasses and strappy leaf plants
• Plants for partial shade
• The best ground cover plants for shade
• Plants for mass planting

Common questions

How is Te Puna different from the species?

It is smaller and narrower. Te Puna stays 40 to 50cm high and wide with shorter flower sprays, while the species forms a broader clump of longer leaves with flower stems to about 90cm.

What is eating the leaves?

Almost certainly snails or slugs, which favour this plant above most others. Control them regularly, especially in spring, and cut off badly chewed leaves. New ones replace them.

Will it grow in full sun?

It tolerates full sun only in cool, mild climates with regular water. In most gardens the foliage looks far better in shade or with morning sun.