Carex testacea

This popular NZ native perennial grass forms a densely tufted clump of arching, weeping foliage that has a distinctive green and orange colouring. With such a contrasting colour, this plant is a good choice for mass planting or large landscaping projects. It grows best in a moist, well drained average soil and is very hardy being tolerant of both wind and frost. Also tolerant to salt-laden winds and drought, making an excellent choice for coastal plantings. Plant in full sun to part shade. Also a popular candidate for decorative pots and containers.  

0.4m x 0.4m

Carex comans

'Red'

This NZ native perennial grass forms a small clump of reddish brown leaves with tips that curl over slightly giving this variety a distinctive weeping habit. This variety differs from Carex 'Bronze' by its redder foliage. A very easy care plant that is suitable for growing in mass plantings, used to edge borders, beside ponds and other moisture retentive areas and can be used in containers also. It grows best in an average moist, well drained soil and is very hardy being tolerant of both wind and frost. Plant in full sun to part shade.

0.5m x 0.5m

Carex buchananii

This attractive NZ native perennial grass has upright, rather stiff, tufted appearance that lends itself well to architectural designs within the garden. The medium sized clump of narrow, rolled, reddish brown leaves have slight curls at the tips that can bleach to white in full sun. This very easy care plant is suitable for growing in mass plantings or beside ponds and other moisture retentive areas.

0.6m x 0.4m

Carex comans

'Bronze'

This NZ native perennial grass forms a small clump of bronzy brown leaves with tips that curl over slightly giving this variety a distinctive weeping habit. This variety differs from Carex 'Red' by its bronzy foliage that tends to be more brown. A very easy care plant that is suitable for growing in mass plantings, used to edge borders, beside ponds and other moisture retentive areas and can be used in containers also.

0.5m x 0.5m

Carex dipsacea

A great NZ native perennial grass that forms a densely tufted clump of upright foliage that has a pleasant light green and brown colouring. Like many grasses, this is best seen when mass planted or in large landscaping projects. The flowering stems are shorter than the leaves. It grows best in a damp to moist soil and needs adequate summer moisture. A hardy choice that is tolerant of both wind and frost. Plant in full sun to part shade.

0.7m x 0.7m

Carex comans

'Frosted Curls'

This NZ native perennial grass forms a small clump of light green leaves bleaching to white tips. The tips curl over slightly giving this variety its distinctive name. This very easy care plant is suitable for growing in mass plantings, used to edge borders, beside ponds and other moisture retentive areas and can be used in containers also. It grows best in a moist, well drained average soil and is very hardy being tolerant of both wind and frost. Plant in full sun to part shade.

0.4m x 0.4m

Carex dissita

Another attractive NZ native perennial grass - this variety has very graceful, arching, bright green foliage and looks great mass planted. Prefers not to be planted in full sun as it is not tolerant of very dry soils, being best planted in a moist, damp position in partial shade. A feature of this species are the almost black seed pods on the flowering stems.

0.8m x 0.8m

Carex flagellifera

There are so many NZ native grasses that are well suited to our garden landscaping. This variety has attractive coppery-brown foliage that is upright with a slight weeping. It looks excellent grouped in plantings alongside flaxes and makes a wonderful addition to the low maintenance garden. Best planted in full sun, in damp to average soils and is dry tolerant once established. Ideal for coastal plantings.

0.5m x 0.5m

Carex secta

A personal favourite, this is a handsome NZ native perennial grass that makes an impressive addition to the garden. A large grass that has bright green billowing leaves when planted in a shady position, otherwise in full sun it appears golden. As the plants mature, they form almost a trunk of old leaves. Suitable for very wet and damp situations, around water features and swamps or the edge of ponds.

1m x 1m

Carex trifida

This attractive NZ native perennial has pronounced broader leaves than other native grasses and forms a weeping clump of deep green leaves that have a bluish-grey bloom to them when grown in open conditions. An excellent coastal plant, extremely hardy and has attractive large brown seed heads in summer. Best planted in mass and works well alongside flax and other low maintenance natives.

1m x 1m

Carex virgata

This attractive NZ native perennial grass is very similar to Carex secta only slightly smaller. Has very similar leaves, v-shaped in cross section. Suitable for very wet and damp situations, around water features and swamps or the edge of ponds. The narrow leaves are deep green, very graceful and weeping and forms attractive mounds.

0.8m x 0.8m

Chionochloa flavicans

Dwarf Toetoe

This NZ native tussock grass has attractive foliage and beautiful flower heads that can be used in floral arrangements. Flowers appear lime green when young, but fade to straw coloured when mature. It looks spectacular planted in groups of five or more and though it grows naturally alongside streams it is very tolerant of dry conditions once established.
0.75m x 1m

Anemanthele lessoniana

Gossamer Grass

This is another popular NZ native perennial grass that will form a densely tufted clump of arching, slightly weeping foliage that has a distinctive green colouring in the shade and rusty brown in the sun. Like many grasses, this plant is a good choice for mass planting or large landscaping projects. It is ideal for dry shaded areas and will happily grow beneath trees like pohutukawa. It grows best in a moist, well drained average soil and is very hardy being tolerant of both wind and frost. In spring, fine lacy flowers are produced that hang above the leaves.

1m x 0.8m

Helictotrichon sempervirens

Blue Oat Grass

This attractive perennial grass is the best choice when going for a blue ornamental grass. With bluish-grey upright, rather tufted foliage, this grass lends itself well to architectural designs within the garden. This very easy care plant is suitable for growing in mass plantings or beside ponds and other moisture retentive areas. Great for providing strong contrast with dark foliaged plants like burgundy flaxes or red cabbage trees. Give it an average moist, well drained soil to do well. Plant in full sun to part shade - a very hardy plant being tolerant of both wind and frost.

0.6m x 0.6m

Leptocarpus similis

Oioi

This NZ native reed is a great choice for wet or dry problem areas. Also known as jointed rush as the delicate grey-green leaves have brown markings or joints at various points along the leaf length. It grows in full sun and prefers damp, swampy areas and can grow in water also. It will also tolerate dry areas once established and is also suitable to growing in containers. It can cover large areas as it spreads by runners.

1m x 1.5m

Lomandra longifolia 'Tanika'

Tanika Mat Rush

This Australian grass is a highly ornamental and tough landscaping favourite. It is a dwarf form of the original Lomandra longifolia and will grow to a height of 60cm. The light-green, lime-coloured leaves are very fine and narrow and weep slightly. Over the warm summer months, small creamy-yellow flowers are borne amongst the foliage leaves. Being very hardy it will handle almost any situation and makes a great low-maintenance plant, that is equally at home in the garden border or mass planted to great effect.

0.6m x 0.7m