Grasses, Sedges, Tussock, Carex, etc These plants add texture, can define a space, and add movement and colour in a garden. Often called architectural plants, they come in a range of types, colours, forms, heights, some are stiff and formal, others more casual. Many are native to NZ.

Lomandra

Grass like plants

40 LISTINGS FOR GRASSES

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A striking clump forming perennial grass with long arching leaves which have a flat surface. This grass has long flower panicles which start bronzey brown and fade to pale brown over summer.Enjoys moist soil in part shade to full sun. this grass goes dormant in the coolest winter months.

 

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aka Sedge

Attractive NZ native grass that forms a clump of tussock-like foliage. The leaves are a dark bronze purple. Upright and graceful, looks fabulous planted in large drifts. Hardy to just about any conditions but happiest in a sunny position that does not dry out completely in summer. Evergreen.

 

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aka Hair Sedge

Native Hair Sedge.. The name Comans means "luxuriant head of hair" and this native Tussock Grass certainly has a fine head of green needle foliage. Tolerant of just about any conditions including coastal. Quickly forms a clump and is invaluable for adding texture to the garden. Evergreen.

 

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aka Hair Sedge

Native. A lovely soft bronze- red grass with fine tufts of arching foliage. Grows in a wide range of conditions including coastal. Comans means "like a luxuriant head of hair" hence the common name of 'Hair Sedge'. Looks its best in large drifts. Evergreen.

 

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aka Autumn Sedge

Wetland Native - Autumn Sedge. Attractive tufts of coarse green foliage with strong bronze tones. Summer seed-heads of dark brown. Will grow happily in moist damp conditions in sun or part shade. Tough and robust, great for mass planting in difficult spots. Evergreen.

 

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aka Sedge

A very attractive little 'Sedge' with arching leaves of green edged with silver. Forms a neat and tidy evergreen clump and would look most impressive planted en masse. Plant in morning sun or part shade in soil that does not completely dry out in summer. Would make a nice container plant too. Perennial. PVR.

Insignificant brown flowers will appear amongst the foliage in summer.

 

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aka Sedge

An attractive and award winning little Carex with variegated arching foliage in shades of cream and soft yellow. Eventually forms a neat and tidy clump. Looks best planted in large drifts to form a carpet under trees etc. Grows best in part shade. Evergreen.

Carex 'Evergold' prefers to grow in a soil that does not completely dry out in summer.

 

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aka Sedge

Easy on the eyes, easy to grow and low maintenance, this plant forms a neat, easily controlled mound of green foliage with lime margins. Everlime is a great cold hardy accent plant for all year round arrangements. Everlime does well in mass plantings and in open situations. Perennial

 

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aka Sedge

Carex Eversheen is a superb ground cover and container plant with distinctive lime yellow striped foliage. A wonderful little selection with a fresh appearance. It is easy to grow, low maintenance and forms a neat easily controlled mound. Eversheen is a great cold hardy accent plant for all year round arrangements. Perennial

 

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Featherfalls is a highly decorative Carex with great garden or pot performance. With long clean and crisp foliage it is a year round maintenance free plant. A highlight of this new variety is its beautiful plumes of feathery flower stems emerging from the centre during spring. Evergreen

 

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aka Tussock Grass

NZ Native Grass. This is a graceful little grass or tussock with fine, light silver green needles of foliage that curl over at the top. Looks its best when planted in large groups or drifts. Easy to grow in sun or part shade in average soil. Evergreen.

If your clump of Carex becomes a little scruffy give it a new 'do' by cutting off the top growth - you can be quite severe - and it will rapidly re grow with renewed vigour.

 

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aka Purei, Pukio

Native wetland grass. A bright green grass that forms a large clump. With age, a trunk-like mass of old leaves forms so the grass seems perched on a tall mound. Good for planting in damp to wet areas but will tolerate short periods of dryness. Plant around ponds as shelter for birds. Evergreen

Evergreen

 

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aka Tussock, NZ Sedge

This native 'grass' is really tough and hardy tolerating cold winds and almost any soil. The brick-orange foliage looks very graceful as it waves and dances in the wind. Ideal for planting in large drifts. If the clumps become a little untidy just chop back hard for renewed vigour. Evergreen.

 

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NZ Native Grass that is a successful colonising plant often used for wetland planting that can also grow on dry sites making it suitable for planting where the conditions may vary periodically. Virgata is a mass of green needle foliage. Tolerant coastal condition. Evergreen.

 

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aka Miniature Toetoe

The perfect plant to add texture and movement to your planting scheme. The arching narrow foliage sways gracefully in the wind. Plumes of creamy green flowers appear in early summer. Hardy and tolerant, easy to grow just about anywhere but prefers a well-drained position. Evergreen.

 

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aka Red Tussock

A very striking plant for adding strong texture to the garden. Particularly affective when planted in groups. The narrow arching foliage glows and shimmers in the sun & ripples elegantly in the wind. Attractive flower heads in summer. Hardy and tolerant. Evergreen.

 

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aka Dwarf Papyrus

Dwarf Papyrus. A striking plant for pond margins or bog gardens. Tall leafless stems are topped off by highly ornamental umbels that carry the tiny brown flowers. Happiest in the sun and moist soil. Doesn't like the cold or harsh frost. Evergreen.

 

aka Smart Grass

A versatile little tuft forming gollden grass that is evergreen and will grow just about anywhere. Quite tough and hardy. Panicles of insignificant flower spikes appear in summer. Group together in clumps for an informal effect.

 

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aka Blue Tussock Grass

Native. An attractive clump forming perennial grass with cushions of blue-grey foliage. Easy to grow. tough and versatile. Plant in sun to part shade. Looks best group planted. Evergreen.

 

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aka Blue Grass

Native. A tough little native grass that hails from the Chatham Islands. The fine needles of foliage are a beautiful shade of blue green and quickly form a neat little clump. Can be used as an edging and certainly looks good mass planted. Easy to grow in a well drained sunny spot. Evergreen.

If you wish your Festuca coxii clumps can be divided annually to refresh and/or multiply.

 

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aka Golden Japanese forest grass

Japanese forest grass. This grass is a stand out for it's brightly variegated golden foliage made distinctive by it's edge of green near the leaf margins. Tolerant of sun or shade but too much shade will bring more green than gold to the leaves. Perennial

Gorgeous colour compliment for a shady area in your garden, on your path edge or through a woodland.

 

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aka Japanese Bloodgrass

Blood-red spikes that fade to bright green at the base and become translucent with age make this grass a spectacular addition to the perennial border. It takes a while to strut its stuff, but in late summer, it shines like a jewel before it dies back. A real eye catcher.

Particularly effective planted with other grasses, or shown off in a container.

 

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A semi-submergable plant that will grow compact, and around the margins of a pond or along the sides of a creek in the sand or silt.Tall thin spear shaped green leaves. Cream flowers. Pretty to look at. Winter hardy.

 

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aka Zealandia Chain Sword

NZ Native. A low growing sub-mergable plant with dense leaf chain suitable for damp bog areas or in water. Spear shaped leaves. Will grow in part shaded around ponds or along creeks. Winter hardy. Cream flowers.

 

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aka Chain sword, micro sword grass

A lovely grassy plant that will carpet the bottom of your pond. Needs good light in deep water although otherwise easy to grow. Provides good habitat for goldfish and also helps to oxygenate the water. Can reach 10 to 15 cm in height.

 

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This variegated grass-like perennial Lomandra is beautiful and soft with small yellow flowers from September to April. The light coloured foliage provides great contrast in the garden. Handles full sun but prefers light to moderate shade. Tolerant of drought and frost. Evergreen

 

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An Aussie perennial known as Echidna grass is a fine, short, lime green Lomandra that forms neat rounded clumps. It is resilient, drought tolerant and makes a great foliage feature in rockeries,in masse landscaping or in a pot for a stunning display. Hardy, Easy care. Evergreen

 

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aka Mat Rush

This useful and attractive clump forming perennial has fine grey-green foliage with silver highlights and a graceful weeping habit. In summer little yellow spikes of fragrant flowers appear amongst the foliage. Great for mass planting, tolerant of poor soil, sun or part shade. Evergreen.

 

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aka Mat Rusher

This Aussie perennial is ideal for group planting in sun or part shade. Fine needles of lime-green foliage form an attractive clump and look good all year round. Little stems of yellow fragrant flowers in summer. Tolerates poor soil but likes good drainage. Easy to grow. Evergreen.

 

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A compact variety of Lomandra that is very popular for smaller spaces and in narrow gardens where small does matter. Requires low care and will form a nice clump of fine emerald green strappy leaves. Frost tolerant. Can be trimmed to shape any time of year.

 

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A compact graceful grass from Australia. Flows beautifully in the wind and doesn't get tatty. Creamy yellow flower heads in Autumn. Great for mass planting and edging. One of the best Lomandra forms for light, sandy soils as it doesn't like the wet. Evergreen. Hardy.

 

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This Aussie perennial is ideal for group planting in sun or part shade. Fine needles of lime-green foliage form an attractive clump and look good all year round. Little stems of yellow fragrant flowers in summer. Tolerates poor soil but likes good drainage. Easy to grow. Evergreen.

 

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aka Honey Reed

This tough little Aussie is a great plant for mass planting in difficult spots. Tolerant of poor soil and coastal conditions, sun or part shade. The blue-grey narrow strap like leaves quickly form a clump. Small, yellow, fragrant flowers in spring. Evergreen.

 

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An Aussie perennial grass is compact with fine, short, lime green strappy leaves that forms a mound. Creamy yellow flower spikes in Summer. It is resilient, drought tolerant and makes a great foliage feature in masse landscaping or in a pot for a stunning display. Hardy, Easy care. Evergreen

 

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Shara is a tidy compact form that is very hardy. This clumping grass like perennial has a finer leaf and very good in humid locations. Great as a border or pot plant, excellent for erosion control. Prefers full sun to part shade, well drained soil. Evergreen.

 

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aka Honey Reed

This tough little Aussie is a great plant for mass planting in difficult spots. Tolerant of poor soil and coastal conditions, sun or part shade. The deep green narrow strap like leaves quickly form a clump. Small, yellow, fragrant flowers in spring. Evergreen. PVR LM300.

 

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This variegated Lomandra is beautiful and soft with small yellow flowers from April to October. The lightly coloured foliage provides great contrast in the garden. Handles full sun but prefers light to moderate shade. Tolerant of drought and frost. Avoid wet feet.

 

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aka Japanese Silver Grass

A showy ornamental grass. Foliage has a distinctive bronze autumn color. Tassel-like flowers which mature to silver appear in autumn, rising 30-50cm above the foliage. Dies down in winter, trim back before spring so new growth comes through nice and fresh. Deciduous. Hardy.

 

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aka Ornamental Grass

This ornamental grass is a compact perennial with narrow leaves, finely edged with white and pink-tinged tassels of flowers in autumn. Cut down old foliage in winter so new, fresh leaves will shoot in Spring.