Botanical name:

Machaerina juncea

Common name(s):

Sedge, tussock swamp twig rush

About:

An ornamental rush-like plant characterised by its delicate and fine bluish-green foliage, which can grow impressively tall, reaching heights of up to 1 m. The inflorescences feature rusty brown bracts that are beautifully positioned at the joints, while the flowering spikelets exhibit a similar warm hue. This plant is most commonly found thriving in swampy areas from North Cape all the way down to the Bay of Plenty, but it becomes notably less common as one moves into other regions of the country. It flourishes best when exposed to full sunlight in very wet or swampy environments; however, it also has the ability to grow successfully in moderately dry soils, although it tends to do so at a slower growth rate compared to its preferred conditions.

Natural habitat:

Coastal to lower montane. Locally common in damp sites in gum land, swamps, salt marshes, and also along lake margins and river estuaries.

Growing environment:

Sun, Salt, Coastal, Wetland & Wind tolerant

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s Three Kings, North and South Islands but scarce south of the Bay of Plenty and Waikato, and very uncommon in the South Island where it known mostly from Nelson, Marlborough and North Westland, though it extends south into Otago.

Height: 1m

Flowering:

October – December

Fruiting:

Fruits may be found throughout the year

Uses:

Riparian plantings

How to grow:

Easily grown from rooted pieces and fresh seed. Rooted pieces establish best if first healed in within a potting medium of mostly untreated saw dust. Once established remarkably tolerant of drought. Does best when planted in full sun, in a permanently damp soil. Machaerina juncea is not fussy about soil fertility but does best in a slightly acidic soil. Machaerina juncea is also tolerant of saline conditions and can be planted into salt marshes and along estuarine creeks and lagoons.

** 4 – 6 weeks cold stratification is recommended