Alpine Button Daisy – blooms on the cold alpine slopes

blooms on the cold alpine slopes

Size: Height: 2–5 cm
Lifespan: 3–5 years
Diet: Not applicable as this is a groundcover. Photosynthetic. Absorbs nutrients through roots. Tolerates cold, wind, frost and snow. Found in alpine and subalpine herbfields.
Habitat: Alpine and subalpine herbfields, rocky slopes, stream banks and damp areas. Prefers well-drained soils with full sun. Tolerates cold, wind, frost and snow.
Range: Throughout New Zealand from Northland to Stewart Island. Most common in alpine and subalpine areas. Widespread in high country. Endemic to New Zealand.
Endemism: Endemic
Main Threats: Climate change affecting alpine habitats is the primary threat. Browsing by introduced mammals. No significant pest or disease issues. Protection of alpine habitats is important for survival.
Population: Populations are considered stable but vulnerable to climate change. The species is common in alpine areas throughout New Zealand. It is threatened by warming temperatures. Protection of alpine habitats is important.
Conservation Status: Not Threatened
Human Risk: harmless
Handling Note: native alpine ground cover, safe to handle
Conservation Note: Endemic alpine herb; widespread in rocky alpine habitats in the South Island.
Assessment: NZTCS Vascular Plants (2023)
Te Ao Māori: In Māori tradition, this alpine daisy was known for its bright flowers. The plant was used medicinally. It was known as a sign of healthy alpine herbfields. The name Traillii honours botanist James Traill. It was a plant of the high mountains. Gathered by those who climbed the peaks. A bright flower in the cold. A yellow sun among the rocks.

It is not just a daisy. Alpine Button Daisy is a creeping, alpine groundcover. It has small, fern-like leaves. In summer, it produces masses of tiny, button-like yellow flowers. The leaves are finely divided. They are bright green and soft to the touch. They form dense mats. These suppress weeds and stabilise the soil. The plant spreads by creeping stems. These root at the nodes. They slowly cover the ground. The flowers are the most striking feature. They are small, yellow, and button-like. They are held on short stalks above the leaves. They appear in summer. They are attractive to alpine insects. The flowers are followed by small, dry fruits containing the seeds. Alpine Button Daisy is extremely cold-hardy. It tolerates heavy frost and snow. It grows in alpine and subalpine herbfields. You find it on rocky slopes and stream banks. It often lives in exposed sites. The dense mats help prevent erosion on steep slopes. The plant is perfect for rock gardens and alpine plantings. It fits between paving stones. It tolerates light foot traffic. This makes it suitable for pathways. The bright yellow flowers provide a splash of colour in the alpine garden. The species is named after James Traill. He was a botanist who collected plants in New Zealand in the 19th century. Traill contributed to the understanding of New Zealand's alpine flora. To find Alpine Button Daisy is to climb the mountains. Look for the dense mats of fern-like leaves. Look for the masses of yellow button flowers. It is a plant of the high places. A daisy of the alpine zone. The yellow flowers are a flash of sun in the cold. A bright spot among the rocks. It does not ask for much. It just needs the cold and the rock. And it has plenty of both.