Native Grasses of New Zealand | NZ Native Plants

Toetoe (Austroderia toetoe)

Introduction

Overview

New Zealand native grasses are key components of natural and restored ecosystems, providing food and shelter for wildlife, stabilizing soil, and withstanding harsh conditions. Iconic species include Chionochloa rubra (Red Tussock), Austroderia toetoe (Toetoe), and Ficinia spiralis (Pāngao). These grasses are adapted to a range of environments, from alpine meadows to coastal dunes. They are valued in landscaping for their movement, texture, and ability to thrive with minimal maintenance, supporting biodiversity and erosion control. Essential species like Hard Tussock form the backbone of Canterbury and Otago's grasslands, while versatile grasses like Silver Tussock adapt from coastal cliffs to subalpine areas with their distinctive silvery coloration.

New Zealand's native grasses and grass-like plants include a diverse range of species from towering toetoe to compact sedges. These versatile plants add texture, movement, and year-round interest to gardens while providing important ecological functions. Many are drought-tolerant and low-maintenance once established, making them excellent choices for sustainable landscaping.

Strand Sedge

Strand Sedge

Carex pumila

Strand Sedge (Carex pumila) is an indigenous New Zealand sedge known for deep blue-green foliage and sand stabilization.

Pyrenean Sedge

Pyrenean Sedge

Carex pyrenaica

Pyrenean Sedge is an indigenous New Zealand sedge forming dense tufts in subalpine to alpine bogs and grasslands.

Sinclair's Sedge

Sinclair's Sedge

Carex sinclairii

Sinclair's Sedge is an endemic New Zealand sedge forming stiff, bright green tufts in freshwater wetlands.

Mutton-Bird Sedge

Mutton-Bird Sedge

Carex trifida

Mutton-Bird Sedge is a robust, indigenous New Zealand sedge forming dense tussocks in coastal areas.

Chatham Islands Forest Sedge

Chatham Islands Forest Sedge

Carex ventosa

Chatham Islands Forest Sedge is a stout, endemic New Zealand sedge forming leafy tussocks in lowland forests.

Carex virgata

Swamp Sedge

Carex virgata

A tall, upright sedge ideal for wetland restoration and naturalized pond margins.

Tīmatua (Chionochloa conspicua)

Tīmatua

Chionochloa conspicua

A majestic tussock grass with tall, showy flower plumes, perfect for creating dramatic garden displays.

Chionochloa flavicans (Broad-leaved Snow Tussock)

Broad-Leaved Snow Tussock

Chionochloa flavicans

Broad-leaved Snow Tussock is a graceful tussock grass with soft, drooping flower heads, ideal for naturalistic plantings.

Narrow-Leaved Snow Tussock (Chionochloa rigida)

Narrow-Leaved Snow Tussock

Chionochloa rigida

Hardy alpine tussock with distinctive rigid leaves, excellent for exposed, windy locations.

Red Tussock (Chionochloa rubra)

Red Tussock

Chionochloa rubra

A striking reddish tussock grass found in New Zealand's alpine and subalpine regions, valued for its colour and movement in the landscape.

Giant Umbrella Sedge (Cyperus ustulatus)

Giant Umbrella Sedge

Cyperus ustulatus

A tall wetland sedge with distinctive umbrella-like flower clusters, perfect for pond margins and wetland restoration projects.

Banks Peninsula Fescue (Festuca actae)

Banks Peninsula Fescue

Festuca actae

A fine-leaved coastal fescue endemic to Banks Peninsula, ideal for coastal plantings and rockeries.

Cox's Fescue (Festuca coxii)

Cox's Fescue

Festuca coxii

A Chatham Islands endemic with distinctive blue-green foliage, perfect for coastal gardens and exposed sites.

Creeping Fescue (Festuca multinodis)

Creeping Fescue

Festuca multinodis

A distinctive scrambling native grass with glaucous blue-green foliage, often cascading over rocks and coastal cliffs.

Ficinia Nodosa (Ficinia nodosa)

Knobbly Club Rush

Ficinia nodosa

A robust coastal sedge with triangular stems and globe-shaped flower clusters, essential for dune stabilisation and salt marsh restoration.

Pīngao (Ficinia spiralis)

Pīngao

Ficinia spiralis

Golden sand-binding sedge prized for traditional Māori weaving.

Māpere (Gahnia setifolia)

Māpere

Gahnia setifolia

A robust New Zealand native sedge with razor-sharp leaves, ideal for wetland restoration.

Giant Cutty Grass (Gahnia xanthocarpa)

Giant Cutty Grass

Gahnia xanthocarpa

A striking wetland sedge with glossy black fruits, supporting rare butterfly species.

Griselinia littoralis

Broadleaf

Griselinia littoralis

Griselinia Littoralis is bird-attracting with notable attractive form; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Two-Tiered Rush

Two-Tiered Rush

Juncus distegus

Architectural endemic rush with wiry vertical stems, thriving in poorly drained clay soils and seasonally wet places.

Grass-leaved Rush

Grass-leaved Rush

Juncus planifolius

Versatile native rush with flat, grassy leaves and clusters of reddish-brown flowers, highly adaptable to damp open ground.

Lachnagrostis billardierei

Coast Blowngrass

Lachnagrostis billardierei

A delicate grass with fine, wispy foliage and soft seedheads, excellent for naturalised grassland areas.

Coastal Woodrush (Luzula banksiana)

Coastal Woodrush

Luzula banksiana

Hardy grass-like plant thriving in diverse New Zealand environments, from alpine to coastal.

Red Woodrush (Luzula rufa)

Red Woodrush

Luzula rufa

A hardy New Zealand native rush forming red-green grass-like tufts, ideal for shaded areas and naturalistic plantings.

Bare Twig Rush

Bare Twig Rush

Machaerina juncea

Stiff, upright native sedge with glaucous blue-green stems, highly tolerant of saline environments and periodic flooding.

Orange Nut Sedge

Orange Nut Sedge

Machaerina rubiginosa

Hardy, spreading native sedge with bluish-green leaves and bright orange-brown nuts, perfect for boggy areas and pond margins.

Pakihi / Nut Sedge

Pakihi / Nut Sedge

Machaerina teretifolia

Hardy, upright native sedge with yellow-green stems, common in peat bogs and pakihi barrens.

Mountain Flax (Phormium cookianum)

Mountain Flax

Phormium cookianum

A smaller, more graceful flax with arching leaves and distinctive seedpods.

Harakeke (Phormium tenax)

Harakeke

Phormium tenax

New Zealand's iconic flax, traditionally used for weaving and fiber, with striking architectural form.

Poa astonii

Blue Shore Tussock

Poa astonii

A compact tussock grass endemic to the South Island, ideal for alpine and subalpine gardens.

Coastal Tussock (Poa billardierei)

Coastal Tussock

Poa billardierei

A hardy, yellow-green tussock grass ideal for coastal environments and dune stabilization.

Poa colensoi

Blue Tussock

Poa colensoi

A hardy tussock grass with blue-green foliage, well-suited to exposed alpine and subalpine sites.

Poa foliosa

Muttonbird Poa

Poa foliosa

A leafy tussock grass with dense foliage, perfect for coastal and subalpine garden environments.

Kōwhangatara (Spinifex sericeus)

Kōwhangatara

Spinifex sericeus

is a sand-binding grass vital for stabilizing coastal dunes and protecting shorelines.

Raupō (Typha orientalis)

Raupō

Typha orientalis

A tall wetland plant with distinctive brown cylindrical flower spikes and many traditional uses.

Hook Sedge (Uncinia uncinata)

Hook Sedge

Uncinia uncinata

Ingenious native sedge with hooked seeds for bird dispersal, known as matau-a-māui, displaying variable foliage colours from green to reddish-bronze.

Pūriri (Vitex lucens)

Pūriri

Vitex lucens

Large native tree with glossy leaves and pink flowers, valued for its timber and as a food source for native birds.

Mueller's Bent Grass (Agrostis muelleriana)

Mueller's Bent Grass

Agrostis muelleriana

Mueller's Bent Grass (Agrostis muelleriana) is a native grass with fine foliage and delicate panicles. Learn habitat and cultivation for dry, sunny sites.

Blue Wheat Grass (Anthosachne aprica)

Blue Wheat Grass

Anthosachne aprica

Endemic to Central Otago's tussock grasslands, this distinctive blue-grey grass has important ecological and cultural significance in New Zealand's high country.

Richmond Tussock (Anthosachne sacandros)

Richmond Tussock

Anthosachne sacandros

Endemic to Marlborough's dry alpine regions, this distinctive grass has important ecological and cultural significance in New Zealand's high country.

Common Wheat Grass (Anthosachne scabra)

Common Wheat Grass

Anthosachne scabra

Comprehensive guide to Common Wheat Grass (Anthosachne scabra), including care tips, propagation methods, and its ecological importance in New Zealand.

NZ Blue Wheat Grass (Anthosachne solandri)

NZ Blue Wheat Grass

Anthosachne solandri

Comprehensive guide to NZ Blue Wheat Grass (Anthosachne solandri), including care tips, propagation methods, and its ecological significance in New Zealand.

Kauri Grass (Astelia trinervia)

Kauri Grass

Astelia trinervia

Also known as Kōkaha, this distinctive plant features bold architectural foliage and plays an important role in New Zealand's forest and gumland ecosystems.

South Island Toetoe (Austroderia richardii)

South Island Toetoe

Austroderia richardii

Austroderia richardii (toetoe) forms large tussocks with tall plumes. Learn ID, cultivation, and how to distinguish from invasive pampas.

Toetoe (Austroderia splendens)

Coastal Toetoe

Austroderia splendens

Austroderia splendens is a toetoe with striking, showy plumes. Learn ID and cultivation for coastal and dry, sunny sites.

Healy's Sedge (Carex healyi)

Healy's Sedge

Carex healyi

Carex healyi is a New Zealand sedge for dry, sunny positions. Identification, habitat and cultivation with sharp drainage and lean, gritty soils.

Horizontal Sedge (Carex horizontalis)

Horizontal Sedge

Carex horizontalis

Carex horizontalis: Low, spreading NZ sedge for sunny, free-draining slopes. Drought-tolerant groundcover ideal for stabilizing dry banks and garden edges.

Feeble Bastard Grass (Carex imbecilla)

Feeble Bastard Grass

Carex imbecilla

Fine, tufting sedge for dry borders and restoration. Thrives in full sun to light shade with gritty, fast-draining soil.