Libertia ‘Taupo Sunset’
Libertia ‘Taupo Sunset’ is a vibrant and evergreen perennial grown for its richly coloured foliage and delicate white flowers. With its changing leaf tones that shift through orange, copper, and red, this striking variety adds year-round interest and warmth to borders, gravel gardens, and containers.
At a Glance
Type: Evergreen perennial
Common Name: New Zealand iris
Foliage Colour: Orange, copper, red, and green tones
Flower Colour: White
Height: 60cm
Spread: 60cm
Flowering Time: April to May
Hardiness: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -10 to -5 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H4)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil; tolerates dry conditions once established
Fiery Foliage for All Seasons
The standout feature of Libertia ‘Taupo Sunset’ is its brilliantly coloured, sword-like leaves. Through the seasons, the foliage shifts from green with orange tips in spring to glowing copper, burnt red, and fiery orange in autumn and winter. This makes it a superb foliage plant that contributes interest even when not in flower.
Delicate Flowers and Architectural Form
In late spring to early summer, sprays of small, pure white, three-petalled flowers emerge on upright stems, creating a charming contrast against the bold foliage. These blooms are followed by ornamental seed capsules, extending the season of interest into late summer.
The plant’s tidy, upright form adds structure and movement, especially when planted en masse or alongside softer grasses and perennials.
Ideal for Modern Gardens and Containers
Libertia ‘Taupo Sunset’ is especially effective in contemporary gardens, gravel planting schemes, or where low-maintenance design is a priority. Its compact size and striking leaves also make it an excellent focal point in pots or when used in repeating patterns along a path or border edge.
Growing Tips
Watering: Water regularly while establishing. Once settled, it is relatively drought tolerant, requiring minimal irrigation.
Feeding: Feed with a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in spring to promote growth and flowering.
Pruning: Remove faded flower stems and any untidy foliage in late summer or early spring. The plant benefits from a light tidy to maintain its shape.
Dividing: Divide every 3–4 years in early spring to rejuvenate mature clumps or to propagate.
Positioning: Best grown in full sun to bring out the most vivid foliage colours, though it will tolerate partial shade. Ensure well-drained soil to prevent winter root rot.
Potted: Yes, Libertia ‘Taupo Sunset’ is highly suitable for containers. Use a loam-based compost with added grit or sharp sand for drainage. Choose a medium-sized pot with good drainage holes, and place in a sunny spot. It’s perfect for adding year-round colour to patios, balconies, or courtyards.
Hardy and Easy to Grow
Libertia ‘Taupo Sunset’ is hardy through much of the UK but may benefit from winter protection (such as a dry mulch or fleece) in colder, exposed areas. It is generally pest- and disease-free and requires little maintenance, making it an excellent choice for gardeners seeking dependable impact with minimal effort.
Perfect Companions
Pair Libertia ‘Taupo Sunset’ with:
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Heuchera ‘Marmalade’ – for complementary warm foliage tones
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Stipa tenuissima – for soft texture and movement
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Salvia ‘Amistad’ – to contrast the warm tones with deep violet spires
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Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ – for late-season flower and form contrast
Why Choose Libertia ‘Taupo Sunset’?
Libertia ‘Taupo Sunset’ offers year-round foliage colour, seasonal white flowers, and a neat, architectural habit — all with very little fuss. It’s a fantastic plant for adding warmth, structure, and interest to a wide range of garden settings.
Plant Libertia ‘Taupo Sunset’ for fiery evergreen foliage, low maintenance charm, and striking visual appeal in beds, borders, and stylish containers.
Buying Perennials from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we lightly trim back our perennials after flowering and trim them back at the end of the season to ensure that the plants remain neat and tidy whilst in the pot. The more tender the plant the less we cut back to help protect exposed stems from winter frost. Depending on the plant variety we will then prune back further in spring once the risk of the more severe frosts is over.
As a result, depending on the time of year you buy perennials, they may not look like images showing their ‘prime time’ in flower and looking at their best.
From late autumn onwards and dependent on variety, there may be very little visible above the soil except for a few cut back dormant leaves or stems. It is perfectly normal for dormant plants to look like this from autumn onwards, they will however burst back into life in spring.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
Perennials are described and classified differently by different gardeners but all would agree that they are plants that come into flower every year from early spring to late summer, the exact time dependent on variety and most die back to ground level in autumn and winter.
As for all plants, soil preparation is time well spent. Dig over the area to be planted ensuring that the ground is free draining. If not then you may wish to either consider planting in a different spot or raising the level of the planting area by adding additional topsoil, well rotted garden compost and/or well rotted manure. Add ‘Fish, Blood and Bone’ fertiliser or a high potash fertiliser to encourage good root growth and development.
It’s always a good idea to plant a few of the same plant together, we recommend planting in 3’s or 5’s to provide a bold effect but allowing them plenty of room to develop.
Always check eventual plant heights when planning borders to ensure that the taller plants are at the back (or at the centre of an island bed) followed by the medium and then smaller low growing plants.
Remember to deadhead perennials after flowering, trim back lightly in autumn as required to tidy the border and if necessary trim again in spring once the risk of heavy frost has passed.
If perennials get too big, start to flower less and less or if it seems to be dying off from the centre, consider dividing the plant but always check that the particular variety is happy to be divided and that you divide at the right time of year for the plant.
By using this simple guide and a little time, perennials can make an absolutely spectacular difference to your garden.
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In stock
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£8.99 |