In 2023, New Zealand scientists propagated a species once reduced to just two plants. Now, hundreds are being planted making it one of the country's biggest restoration successes

A New Zealand plant once feared to be on the verge of disappearing has been given a remarkable second chance. After years of careful work by conservationists, botanists and plant growers, hundreds of seedlings are now returning to their natural home. The restoration effort marks an important milestone for one of the country's rarest native species.

According to RNZ, around 250 Craspedia argentea seedlings are being planted this week at Mahaka Katia Scientific Reserve in Central Otago following years of careful breeding, propagation and restoration work.




The woollyhead herb, which is endemic to the Pisa Flats, had declined so dramatically that only two known plants remained growing in the wild. Conservationists feared the species could disappear completely without immediate intervention.

How was the species brought back?

Department of Conservation senior technical adviser in ecology Richard Ewans described the work as an urgent rescue effort.

"We've been really concerned about this plant disappearing.... so we knew we had to intervene and start a programme of breeding," he said.

The decline continued even inside the protected reserve. Botanist Geoffrey Rogers, who has spent much of his career studying the rare flora of Otago's drylands, said the shrinking population caused the natural pollination network to collapse, according to RNZ.

Researchers managed to collect only three seeds during one season, and just two of them successfully germinated.

"All of these plants going back into the ground - now hundreds - were derived from those two plants," he said.

That breakthrough became the foundation for rebuilding the species.

Staff at the Dunedin Botanic Garden then spent about two years carefully cross-pollinating and hand-pollinating the flowers to increase seed production.

"We initially thought we might be dealing with 20 or 30 plants to translocate back, but we had really good success with the group, particularly at the Botanic Gardens. Their work has been amazing. We produced about 800 seeds from the first season ... and that turned into about 300 seedlings," Ewans said.

"We've cracked a bit of a code around how to grow the plants now so we're confident we can keep producing plants."

Why is this plant so important?

Many people became personally connected to the recovery project while helping raise the fragile seedlings. Apprentice Jess Freeman, one of several Dunedin Botanic Garden staff involved, described the work simply.

"We've just kind of looked after the babies, nursed them up, counted seed from them, and stored them in our fridge," she said.

Botanist Tom Myers said the species had become especially meaningful to those working with it.

"It really speaks to me of this habitat. Like I've always loved coming through Central Otago, and it clearly is well suited to this habitat," he said.

The project also received support from Alexandra home-based propagator Dhana Pillai, who helped raise plants before gradually exposing them to Central Otago's climate.

"They're quite fussy plants - sometimes they don't look so good. And you think, oh, what's going wrong here? What have I done? Have they got too much water?," she said.

"It's really great to be part of this project. I'm learning so much about these plants, and there's still a long way to go."

What happens after planting?

The newly planted seedlings will now enter the next stage of their recovery. According to Ewans, the young plants will be monitored throughout winter with monthly inspections and a trail camera. Conservationists hope they establish strong roots before facing their first Central Otago summer.

For Rogers, however, restoring Craspedia argentea is only one part of a much broader conservation effort. "We're rescuing a species, but really what we want to do is rescue an ecosystem, and all of the flow of nutrients and energy and animal food webs that are associated."



The project represents years of collaboration between the Department of Conservation, Dunedin Botanic Garden, local propagators and researchers. After a species was reduced to just two surviving plants, hundreds of seedlings are now returning to their natural habitat, offering fresh hope not only for Craspedia argentea, but also for the wider Central Otago ecosystem that depends on it.

FAQs

How many wild plants were left?

Only two known plants remained in the wild.

Where are the new seedlings being planted?

At Mahaka Katia Scientific Reserve in Central Otago.