Botanical name:

Juncus australis

Common name(s):

Leafless rush, wiwi

About:

J. australis is a well-known species of rush that can commonly be found thriving around various bodies of water. Its preferred habitat includes wet or seasonally wet grasslands and dense forests, where it can grow effectively in moist, dense, and damp soil along the edges of rivers and creeks. This plant is notable for being a rhizomatous perennial rush that can reach impressive heights of up to 1.2 m tall. During its blooming period, the plant showcases clusters of flowers, which are characterised by dense heads situated at the tip of its slender stems.

Natural habitat:

Coastal to lower montane usually in damp pasture and swampy ground. Rarely within shrub-land and open forest. Often on poorly drained clay soils. This species which flourishes in disturbed sites has probably increased its range following human settlement.

Growing environment:

Sun, Wetland, Wind & Coastal tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s Kermadec, North, South Islands. Present also on Norfolk Island and Australia

Height: 1.2m

Flowering: 

September – December with a green – brown coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

November – May

Uses:

Riparian plantings & Pioneer Plantings.

How to grow:

Easily grown from fresh seed. Unlikely to prove a popular garden plant. Mostly regarded as a weed when it invades pasture.

** Seed germinates without pre treatment. 4 weeks cold stratification will help speed this up though