You've picked a mayor - now pick your favourite native plant

Having ticked their favourites in the local body elections, Kiwis can now vote for their favourite native plant in the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network’s annual poll.

This is the Network’s seventh poll, with previous winners including iconic plants such as Cook’s scurvy grass and two-time winner pohutukawa. In 2007 the white-flowered willowherb took out top honours while last year pingao, the golden sand sedge, took the mayoral seat.

With more than 2400 native plants in the running New Zealanders have plenty of choice beyond the obvious and more traditional options such as the silver fern. Previous voting has been more in favour of charismatic natives such as cabbage tree, the Chatham island forget-me-not and the tree nettle.

“There appears to be a growing love for our native plants as more and more people use them in their gardens and, increasingly, get involved in the many community or school ecological restoration projects throughout the country” said Network President Dr Philipa Crisp.

“We live in one of the world’s most important places for plants so finding out what New Zealanders love about their flora is important to help us conserve it more effectively” she said.

However, Dr Crisp pointed out that some plants on the voting list were in danger of being dropped.

“Our plant life has been evolving for 80 million years, largely in the absence of mammals, but now many of our most cherished species are facing immediate extinction due to human threat and competition with the exotic plants that outnumber them. We hope this voting will help highlight the importance of all of these plants in our lives.”

Voting is via the website of the Plant Conservation Network (www.nzpcn.org.nz) and closes on Sunday 5th December 2010.

ENDS

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