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.

Speargrass (Aciphylla anomala)

Needle Speargrass

Aciphylla anomala

Needle Speargrass ( Aciphylla anomala ) is a unique New Zealand native plant, valued for its distinctive form and ecological importance in its natural habitat.

Aciphylla aurea (Golden speargrass)

Golden Speargrass

Aciphylla aurea

Golden speargrass is a spiky, tussock-forming plant with striking yellow flower heads, adapted to alpine and subalpine environments.

Colenso's Speargrass (Aciphylla colensoi)

Colenso's Speargrass

Aciphylla colensoi

Colenso's Speargrass ( Aciphylla colensoi ) is a unique New Zealand native plant, valued for its distinctive form and ecological importance in its natural habitat.

Congested Speargrass (Aciphylla congesta)

Congested Speargrass

Aciphylla congesta

Congested Speargrass ( Aciphylla congesta ) is a unique New Zealand native plant, valued for its distinctive form and ecological importance in its natural habitat.

Narrow-leaved Speargrass (Aciphylla crenulata)

Narrow-leaved Speargrass

Aciphylla crenulata

Elegant subalpine speargrass with slender rosettes and striking flower spikes, native to high-rainfall South Island regions.

Dieffenbach's Speargrass (Aciphylla dieffenbachii)

Dieffenbach's Speargrass

Aciphylla dieffenbachii

Dieffenbach's Speargrass ( Aciphylla dieffenbachii ) is a unique New Zealand native plant, valued for its distinctive form and ecological importance in its natural habitat.

Dobson's Speargrass (Aciphylla dobsonii)

Dobson's Speargrass

Aciphylla dobsonii

Distinctive, cushion-forming alpine speargrass with stocky rosettes and sharp, leathery leaves, native to South Island fellfields.

Blue Spaniard (Aciphylla glaucescens)

Blue Spaniard

Aciphylla glaucescens

Dramatic architectural plant with rigid blue-grey foliage and massive flowering spikes, iconic to New Zealand high-country.

Little Speargrass (Aciphylla monroi)

Little Speargrass

Aciphylla monroi

Compact alpine perennial forming small green rosettes with sharp leaves and attractive flower umbels, endemic to the South Island.

Armstrong's Speargrass (Aciphylla montana)

Armstrong's Speargrass

Aciphylla montana

Architectural alpine perennial forming spiny green rosettes with impressive flower stalks, native to the central South Island Alps.

Subalpine Spaniard (Aciphylla pinnatifida)

Subalpine Spaniard

Aciphylla pinnatifida

Robust alpine speargrass with deeply divided green rosettes and compact flower stalks, native to moist high-country habitats.

Giant Speargrass (Aciphylla scott-thomsonii)

Giant Speargrass

Aciphylla scott-thomsonii

Magnificent speargrass capable of reaching 4 meters in height, with massive blue-green rosettes and towering flower spikes.

Alpine Speargrass (Aciphylla similis)

Alpine Speargrass

Aciphylla similis

Compact alpine perennial with rigid rosettes and spiny leaves, characteristic of open South Island mountain grasslands.

Cushion Speargrass (Aciphylla simplex)

Cushion Speargrass

Aciphylla simplex

Specialized alpine perennial forming dense, prickly cushions on high-altitude fellfields and bluff ledges, native to the southern South Island.

Common Speargrass (Aciphylla squarrosa)

Common Speargrass

Aciphylla squarrosa

Common Speargrass ( Aciphylla squarrosa ) is a unique New Zealand native plant, valued for its distinctive form and ecological importance in its natural habitat.

Fan-leaf Speargrass (Aciphylla subflabellata)

Fan-leaf Speargrass

Aciphylla subflabellata

Fan-leaf Speargrass is a robust speargrass with rigid, fan-like foliage and tall flower spikes, ideal for dry, sunny mountain environments.

Dyer's Bentgrass (Agrostis dyeri)

Dyer's Bentgrass

Agrostis dyeri

Resilient alpine grass forming stiff green tufts with delicate flowering panicles, native to New Zealand's high country.

Gossamer Grass (Anemanthele lessoniana)

Gossamer Grass

Anemanthele lessoniana

Graceful, arching grass with seasonal copper, bronze, and gold hues.

Oioi (Apodasmia similis)

Oioi

Apodasmia similis

Salt‑tolerant restiad forming dense stands in coastal wetlands; excellent for shoreline stabilisation and raingardens.

Rengarenga (Arthropodium candidum)

Rengarenga

Arthropodium candidum

A hardy, lily-like plant with white star-shaped flowers and grass-like foliage, perfect for naturalised plantings.

Mountain Astelia (Astelia nervosa)

Mountain Astelia

Astelia nervosa

Clump-forming plant with broad, silvery leaves, often found in alpine areas.

Perching Lily (Astelia solandri)

Perching Lily

Astelia solandri

Epiphytic plant with long, sword-shaped leaves, often found on trees.

North Island Toetoe (Austroderia fulvida)

North Island Toetoe

Austroderia fulvida

New Zealand's magnificent native tussock grass with golden plumes.

Austroderia toetoe (additional variety)

Austroderia Sedge

Austroderia toetoe

Iconic native grass known for its tall, graceful plumes that catch the light and create movement in the landscape.

White Sedge (Carex albula)

White Sedge

Carex albula

Graceful, weeping sedge with silvery-white foliage.

Buchanan's Sedge (Carex buchananii)

Buchanan's Sedge

Carex buchananii

Complete guide to Buchanan's Sedge ( Carex buchananii ), including care tips, propagation methods, and its ornamental value in New Zealand gardens.

Frosted Curls Sedge (Carex comans)

Frosted Curls Sedge

Carex comans

Complete guide to Frosted Curls Sedge ( Carex comans ), including care tips, propagation methods, and its unique cascading beauty in gardens.

Chatham Sedge (Carex chathamica)

Chatham Sedge

Carex chathamica

A beautiful, stoutly tufted NZ native sedge endemic to the Chatham Islands.

Leathery Sedge (Carex coriacea)

Leathery Sedge

Carex coriacea

Robust sedge with distinctive broad, leathery leaves, excellent for damp soils and pond margins.

Short Sedge (Carex decurtata)

Short Sedge

Carex decurtata

A unique South Island native sedge forming dense tufts of bright green foliage.

Lesser Tussock Sedge (Carex diandra)

Lesser Tussock Sedge

Carex diandra

A graceful wetland sedge forming loose, bright green clumps, ideal for bog gardens and native restoration.

Teasel Sedge (Carex dipsacea)

Teasel Sedge

Carex dipsacea

A robust, arching sedge with olive-green to bronze foliage and distinctive dark seed heads.

Carex dissita

Dissita Forest Sedge

Carex dissita

A distinctive wetland sedge forming dense tussocks, ideal for restoration and bog gardens.

Star Sedge (Carex echinata)

Star Sedge

Carex echinata

A delicate alpine sedge known for its unique star-shaped fruit clusters and fine, tufted foliage.

Enys's Sedge (Carex enysii)

Enys's Sedge

Carex enysii

A rare, diminutive alpine sedge forming compact turfs, highly prized by native plant collectors.

Red Sheath Sedge (Carex erythrovaginata)

Red Sheath Sedge

Carex erythrovaginata

Carex erythrovaginata is a distinctive native sedge with characteristic reddish-brown leaf bases.

Glen Sedge (Carex flagellifera)

Glen Sedge

Carex flagellifera

A graceful, bronze-toned sedge with arching leaves, perfect for ornamental gardens and rockeries.

Carex geminata

Geminata Rautahi

Carex geminata

A clumping sedge with narrow, dark green leaves, naturally found in wetland and forest margins.

Orange-Tufted Sedge (Carex kaloides)

Orange-Tufted Sedge

Carex kaloides

A distinctive South Island sedge with striking orange-yellow tufts, ideal for wetland and tussock gardens.

Two-Tipped Sedge (Carex lachenalii)

Two-Tipped Sedge

Carex lachenalii

A rare, diminutive native sedge found in high-alpine wetlands, known for its small size and resilience in cold environments.

Sea Sedge (Carex litorosa)

Sea Sedge

Carex litorosa

An upright, tussock-forming coastal sedge with distinct reddish-bronze to pale green foliage and curly tips.

Māori Sedge (Carex Maorica)

Māori Sedge

Carex maorica

A versatile wetland sedge with light green arching foliage, ideal for wetland restoration and riparian plantings.

Pūrei (Carex secta)

Pūrei

Carex secta

Pūrei is coastal-tolerant with notable shelter value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Carex solandri

Solander's Sedge

Carex solandri

A distinctive forest sedge with broad, ribbed leaves and compact growth habit.

Talbot's Sedge (Carex talbotii)

Talbot's Sedge

Carex talbotii

A unique diminutive sedge with intense copper to purplish-bronze foliage, found in alpine wetland turfs.

Orange Sedge

Orange Sedge

Carex testacea

Orange Sedge is a popular ornamental grass with stunning orange-tinted foliage, perfect for New Zealand landscapes.

Needle-leaved Carex

Needle-leaved Carex

Carex acicularis

Carex acicularis (Needle-leaved Carex) is a diminutive, endemic NZ sedge forming small tufts in montane to subalpine wet, stony ground.

Knob Sedge

Knob Sedge

Carex inversa

Knob Sedge (Carex inversa) is a resilient New Zealand native sedge known for its creeping habit and ability to stabilize soil.