Wetland ecosystems.

Maori sedge

Carex maorica is found throughout New Zealand in swampy areas. This sedge grows into upright arching clumps to 1m tall, with ribbed light green leaves. The foliage is fragile and can snap easily, making it an unattractive garden specimen. It is best suited to environmental plantings.

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Habitat:
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Suits wet conditions
Suits temperate conditions.

Sunlight:
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Prefers semi shade.

Application:
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Use in wetland plantings.
Use in revegetation plantings.

Size:
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Mature: diameter 1m x height 1m
Planting centres: 0.5m

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Purei, Pukio

Carex secta is a common plant of swampy areas throughout New Zealand. It forms large tussocks up to 1m tall, with weeping yellowish green leaves. At its best beside water, it will grow in any moist soil in sun or semi-shade. Old specimens in moist to wet sites often form thick sturdy trunks from the matted roots and old stem bases.

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Habitat:
–––––––––--
Suits wet conditions
Suits temperate conditions.

Sunlight:
–––––––––--
Prefers full sun.
Prefers semi shade.

Application:
–––––––––--
Use in wetland plantings.
Use in revegetation plantings.
Use in mass specimen landscape plantings.

Size:
–––––––––--
Mature: diameter 1m x height 1m
Planting centres: 0.5m

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Swamp sedge, Pukio, Toitoi, Toetoe

Carex virgata is a vigorous sedge of swampy areas throughout New Zealand. It has narrow arching bright green leaves and grows to about 90cm. It is a useful species for waterside planting and very damp soils but will also grow on dry sites and in sun or semi shade. Ideal for wetland, storm water , and riparian plantings.

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Habitat:
–––––––––--
Suits coastal conditions.
Suits temperate conditions.
Suits wet conditions.

Sunlight:
–––––––––--
Prefers full sun.
Prefers semi shade.

Application:
–––––––––--
Use in revegetation plantings.
Use in mass specimen landscape plantings.
Use in wetland plantings.

Size:
–––––––––--
Mature: diameter 1m x height 1m
Planting centres: 0.5m

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Coastal cutty grass, Giant umbrella sedge, Cyperus

Cyperus ustulatus is a plant of damper areas, often found by rivers near the coast, and it is distributed through much of the country apart from the southern South Island. It is very vigorous, growing into a clump 60cm -1m tall, with deep olive-green, very sharp-edged leaves. The flowering stems are up to 1.2m or more, with a ruff of leafy bracts below the spikelets. A useful plant for revegetation in wet areas but it is generally considered too vigorous for most garden situations. Propagation by seed or division.

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Habitat:
–––––––––--
Suits temperate conditions.
Suits wet conditions.

Sunlight:
–––––––––--
Prefers full sun.

Application:
–––––––––--
Use in wetland plantings.
Use in revegetation plantings.
Use in stormwater plantings.

Size:
–––––––––--
Mature: diameter 1m x height 1m
Planting centres: 0.5m

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Spike rush, Sharp spike sedge

Eleocharis acuta inhabits swampy ground throughout New Zealand. It spreads from creeping rhizomes and grows to about 50cm high, with bright green rush like leaves. A useful plant for swampy areas and pond edges, where it will grow in shallow water. Needs full sun.

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Habitat:
–––––––––--
Suits wet conditions.

Sunlight:
–––––––––--
Prefers full sun.

Application:
–––––––––--
Use in wetland plantings.
Use in stormwater planting.

Size:
–––––––––--
Mature: diameter 0.5m x height 0.5m
Planting centres: 0.5m

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Wiwi, Edgars rush, Juncus gregiflorus

Juncus edgariae (gregiflorus) or wiwi (common name) is a rush of swampy areas throughout New Zealand. It grows into a tight clump 1-2m tall with bright green stems. It is ideal for revegetation of wetlands and riparian areas and is useful for damp landscaping areas.

Easily the most common indigenous species. Coastal to alpine, but mainly coastal to montane. Usually in open shrub land, fringing wetlands, and in seasonally damp sites. Often found invading pasture and in urban areas.

Features bright to dark green, orange-green to red-green (drying glossy yellow-green) rather variable perennial forming compact to diffuse tussocks 0.6-2.5 m tall. Rhizome at or just below ground, 5 mm diameter, horizontal, difficult to pull from the soil. Distinguished from the other indigenous species with the flowers usually clustered at the branchlet apices, by the capsules 1.5-2.3 mm long.

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Habitat:
–––––––––--
Suits wet conditions.

Sunlight:
–––––––––--
Prefers full sun.

Application:
–––––––––--
Use in wetland plantings.
Use in stormwater planting.

Size:
–––––––––--
Mature: diameter 0.6m x height 1.2m
Planting centres: 0.5m

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Baumea rubiginosa

Baumea rubiginosa is a vigorous creeping species best used for the revegetation of wetlands. It is found in swampy places throughout the North Island and less commonly in the South Island. The rush-like leaves are up to 1m or more tall and are bluish to dark green with flowering spikelets of reddish brown. It needs full sun, ample moisture and plenty of space.

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Habitat:
–––––––––--
Suits wetland conditions.
Suits coastal conditions.
Suits montane freshwater seeps.
Suits poor soil conditions.

Sunlight:
–––––––––--
Prefers full sun

Application:
–––––––––--
Use in wetland plantings

Size:
–––––––––--
Mature: diameter 1m x height 1.8m
Planting centres: 0.8m

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Harakeke, korari (maori name for inflorescence), flax

Phormium tenax, commonly known as harakeke, is one of New Zealand’s most versatile plants having a combination of extreme vigour coupled elegant beauty. The foliage is khaki green coloured and up to 3m long. The nectar from the flowers, borne on tall slender flower stalks, is a great attractor to native birds such as Tui. Harakeke is abundant throughout New Zealand particularly in wetland areas. Perfect for revegetation, riparian plantings, and for landscaping.

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Habitat:
–––––––––--
Suits temperate conditions.
Suits coastal conditions.
Suits wet conditions.

Sunlight:
–––––––––--
Prefers full sun.

Application:
–––––––––--
Use in single specimen amenity plantings.
Use in revegetation plantings.
Use in wetland plantings.

Size:
–––––––––--
Mature: diameter 2m x height 3m
Planting centres: 1m

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