E. undulatum (only species listed on NZPCN)

A sea holly that transforms from summer to winter. A native too. Great for well drained places. As tough as! 

I do have*   E. undulatum. NZ native endemic as in the latest information (2025).  A curiosity. In winter it has little sword like leaves without spines, yet in summer it transforms into a lobed, spined, prickly patch, 5cm tall. Spreads by rhizomes. Short flower stalks, 2-3cm, tiny white and crowded at the tip with radiating eryngio like bracts. Flowers in January to February. Mostly coastal. Growing on sandy beaches, coastal gravels, lower drainage areas of rivers, and exposed headlands. Occasionally inland in similar habitats. At risk.

I have had this for years. From Hokonui Alpines originally. I have only just discovered what it could be as I was reading Hugh Wilson's book "Plant life on Banks Peninsula"  However since 2025 ...

• NZPCN (a great website for natives) says that E. vesiculosum is an Australian endemic, and is superficially similar, but more upright and blue rather than glaucous (waxy) or grey-green, only they don't mention E. vesiculosum at all. Kew says E. undulatum is the New Zealand species but that the Aussie one is here. But wrongly . Hugh Wilson lists  E. vesiculosum occurring on Banks Peninsula where it is rare and local, but it muct me E. undulatum.

* (I was wrong re the name)