Carex dissita
Forest Sedge, known as purei in Māori, is an attractive endemic New Zealand sedge with distinctive bright green, ribbed leaves and characteristic dark brown seed heads that contrast beautifully with its fresh foliage. This versatile sedge forms graceful, arching clumps growing 45-80cm tall and is commonly found along stream sides in riparian forests throughout New Zealand. From lowland to montane areas, it thrives in damp, shaded conditions but demonstrates remarkable adaptability, tolerating full sun and drier conditions once established, making it excellent for both natural ecosystem restoration and garden cultivation. native grasses
Image credit: Forest Sedge (Carex dissita). Wikipedia
| Scientific Name | Carex dissita |
|---|---|
| Height | 0.15-1.0 meters |
| Spread | 0.6-1.0 meters |
| Water Needs | Moderate to high (prefers moist conditions) |
| Light | Shade to full sun (very adaptable) |
| Frost Tolerance | Excellent |
| Salt Tolerance | Not specified |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Lifespan | Long-lived perennial |
Forest Sedge is highly adaptable throughout New Zealand, thriving from lowland to montane areas across North, South, and Stewart Islands. It performs exceptionally well in temperate climates with reliable moisture, making it suitable for most New Zealand regions.
| City | Climate Suitability |
|---|---|
| Whangārei | Ideal |
| Auckland | Ideal |
| Hamilton | Ideal |
| Tauranga | Ideal |
| Rotorua | Ideal |
| Gisborne | Ideal |
| New Plymouth | Ideal |
| Napier | Good |
| Whanganui | Ideal |
| Palmerston North | Ideal |
| Wellington | Ideal |
| Nelson | Ideal |
| Christchurch | Ideal |
| Dunedin | Ideal |
| Invercargill | Ideal |
Forest Sedge is highly adaptable to various soil conditions:
Exceptionally adaptable to light conditions:
Moderate to high water needs:
Forest Sedge requires minimal maintenance:
The natural arching habit and bright green foliage are the main attractions, so minimal intervention produces the best results.
The best time to plant Forest Sedge is during spring or early autumn when soil moisture is reliable and temperatures are moderate for good establishment.
Choose a site with:
Keep soil consistently moist during the first growing season. Once established, this hardy sedge is very low-maintenance and adapts well to various conditions.
Growing Forest Sedge from seed is straightforward:
Division is the most reliable propagation method:
Forest Sedge is becoming increasingly available from native plant nurseries, particularly those specializing in wetland and riparian restoration plants.
Forest Sedge (Carex dissita) represents the intimate connection between New Zealand's native flora and the country's pristine freshwater ecosystems:
Today, Forest Sedge serves as both an excellent restoration plant and a living reminder of New Zealand's healthy freshwater heritage, playing vital roles in modern riparian restoration, stormwater management, and native garden design.
Provide appropriate growing conditions with consistent moisture and some organic matter in the soil. Most problems can be prevented by meeting the plant's basic cultural requirements for moist, fertile growing conditions.
Forest Sedge is perfect for creating natural-looking stream-side plantings even in urban gardens. Plant it alongside ferns and other moisture-loving natives to recreate the understory of New Zealand's riparian forests. The bright green foliage provides excellent contrast to darker green ferns, while the distinctive dark seed heads add seasonal interest. It's also one of the best plants for natural stormwater management - the extensive root system helps filter runoff while the foliage slows water flow during heavy rains.
These New Zealand sedges offer complementary textures and colours and thrive in freely drained, sunny sites. Mixing several species creates resilient, low‑input plantings with year‑round structure.
Learn more about riparian and wetland plants in Wetland Plants.
Carex dissita (forest sedge) forms fresh green tussocks with arching blades and scattered, dark spikelets held on wiry culms. Clumps expand moderately to create cohesive swards in consistently moist, humus‑rich soils.
Found in lowland forest margins, gullies, and stream edges throughout much of New Zealand where soils remain moist and organic matter accumulates. Prefers dappled light to bright shade.
Intercepts runoff and traps leaf litter, improving soil structure. Wind‑pollinated flowers produce seed dispersed locally by water and gravity, enabling steady infill of riparian microsites.
Functions as a keystone sedge in damp understories and stream margins, enhancing bank stability and supporting detrital food webs. Valuable in urban nature‑based stormwater systems.
Incorporate compost and mulch 5–8 cm deep to conserve moisture. Space 40–60 cm apart for bank stabilisation. Irrigate during dry spells; avoid fertiliser excess that favours weeds.
Weed diligently during establishment. Trim spent culms after seeding to tidy. Maintain mulch and irrigation in prolonged dry periods to prevent stress and edge dieback.
Naturalistic stream‑side plantings with ferns, Blechnum, and shade‑tolerant shrubs. Effective as a soft edge to ponds and swales where gentle movement is desirable.
Common and widespread. In ecological plantings, use eco‑sourced plants appropriate to catchment, control weeds, and exclude stock to protect fragile banks.
Sedges supported weaving and indicated healthy wetlands in traditional practice. C. dissita’s tufted clumps provide shelter for invertebrates and stabilise damp soils in shaded gullies.
In designed plantings, it is used to knit together damp understories beneath trees, contrasting with broader‑leafed groundcovers.
