Occasional epiphytes are those species that ordinarily grow terrestrially but from time to time may be found growing as epiphytes. Once established as an epiphyte they can grow to maturity unlike ephemeral epiphytes.
Nineteen vascular plant species have been recorded as occasional epiphytes in New Zealand. They are:
- Asplenium bulbiferum
- Asplenium oblongifolium
- Blechnum discolor
- Blechnum filiforme
- Blechnum procerum
- Davallia tasmanii subsp. tasmanii
- Davallia tasmanii subsp. cristata
- Epacris sinclairii
- Grammitis rigida
- Huperzia varia
- Hymenophyllum atrovirens
- Libertia ixioides
- Luzuriaga parviflora
- Microlaena avenacea
- Nephrolepis hirsutula
- Nertera dichondrifolia
- Trichomanes endlicherianum
- Xeronema callistemon f. bracteosa
- Xeronema callistemon f. callistemon