Nertera cunninghamii

Nertera cunninghamii is a low-growing plant native to New Zealand. It belongs to Rubiaceae, the family that includes coffee. Kew records its growth form as a subshrub. Plants For A Future describes it as a perennial. Its wild sites include damp forest, shrubland, and boggy ground. It grows on both North Island and South Island. These sites range from lowland ground to mountain habitats. Kew places the species within a subtropical climate range.

This plant forms a low mat rather than upright growth. Its stems spread along the ground and root at nodes. Plants For A Future gives a height of about 0.33 feet (0.1 metres). Its listed spread is about 0.66 feet (0.2 metres). This small size suits a rock garden with mild winters. A lightly shaded woodland edge offers another garden setting. The species has flowers with both male and female organs. Its fruit is a berry with a single seed. Each berry measures about 0.013 feet (0.004 metres) across.

Choose light soil that drains well but stays moist. Sandy and loamy soils both suit its needs. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline conditions. Give it partial shade and shelter from cold winds. Damp wild habitats do not mean it tolerates winter waterlogging. Plants For A Future warns against too much winter wet. It recommends outdoor culture only in Britain's milder districts. Frosts should be brief and light where it grows outside. The same source lists USDA zones 8–11.

Seeds and spring division provide two ways to raise plants. Sow seeds in spring under cool, shaded cover. A cool greenhouse or cold frame suits this stage. Move seedlings into separate pots once large enough to handle. Keep them in light shade through their first winter. Plant them outside in late spring or early summer. Wait until the expected frost season has passed. Young plants may need protection during their first outdoor winter.

Plants For A Future lists the raw fruit as edible. It gives the plant a low food-use score. The source reports no known hazards, rather than proven safety. It lists no known medicinal or other practical uses. Its garden role rests on its small, spreading form. The same source does not flag it as weedy.