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.
Toetoe
Austroderia toetoe
Iconic native grass known for its tall, graceful plumes that catch the light and create movement in the landscape.
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Kōwhangatara
Spinifex sericeus
Native sand-binding grass essential for coastal dune stabilization with distinctive silvery foliage and tumbling seed heads.
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Silver Tussock
Poa cita
A medium-sized tussock with an attractive silvery appearance in the wind.
Pūrei
Carex secta
A distinctive sedge that forms elevated "towers" in wet areas, providing excellent texture in garden ponds.
Red Tussock
Chionochloa rubra
A large, reddish-bronze tussock grass that creates stunning visual impact in mass plantings.
Wharariki
Phormium cookianum
A smaller, more graceful flax with arching leaves and distinctive seedpods.
Harakeke
Phormium tenax
New Zealand's iconic flax, traditionally used for weaving and fiber, with striking architectural form.
Raupō
Typha orientalis
A tall wetland plant with distinctive brown cylindrical flower spikes and many traditional uses.
Pīngao
Ficinia spiralis
Golden sand sedge with distinctive spiral growth, important for dune stabilization and traditional weaving.
Image credit: Wikipedia
Broad-leaved Snow Tussock
Chionochloa flavicans
A distinctive tussock grass with broad leaves and attractive plumes, perfect for low-maintenance landscaping.
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