Libertia grandiflora

The Libertia grandiflora, sometimes called New Zealand Satin Flower, is a beautiful rhizomatous perennial plant that is easy to grow and hardy down to -10°C (14°F). It is interesting for its clump-forming habit with stiff, linear foliage, as well as its delicate white flowers, carried on slender stems well above the foliage. They are followed by attractive black fruits when ripe. This plant is ideally planted at the edge of a water feature, in a sunny location. This species grows very well in pots, where it has a great impact.

Libertia grandiflora is a botanical species native to New Zealand belonging to the Iridaceae family. This upright clump-forming perennial will reach a height of 60 cm (24in) to 1.30 m (4ft), a width of 60 cm (24in), with a moderately fast growth rate. It forms a dense, slightly stiff, spreading clump. In late spring and early summer, thin stems appear between the foliage, carrying panicles of 3 to 6 flowers measuring 1.5 to 3 cm (1in) in diameter, with three white petals enclosed in a bract. The centre of the corolla is filled with yellow stamens. The plant produces an abundance of round, black seeds that germinate very easily. It develops evergreen foliage, composed of stiff, linear leaves, 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24in) long and 0.3 to 1.5 cm (0 to 1in) wide, which are a dark green colour.

Plant Libertia grandiflora in any moist but well-drained soil, which is preferably humus-rich. It requires a sunny position to flower. Truly attractive plant in many ways, both opulent and vertical, it is magnificent in water gardens, with a wild or even Asian-inspired look due to its clean shapes.  It highlights both the layout of a pathway and the banks of a pond, or the surroundings of waterfalls and artificial streams. It pairs well with Sisyrinchium, Crocosmia crocosmiiflora Emily McKenzie, Liatris, or Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'. This perennial will be appreciated in fresh rockeries, containers, borders, waterfalls, streams, banks, flower beds, or lagoons.