Botanical name:

Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani

Common name(s):

Kapungawha, Lake Club-rush, Schoenoplectus validus, Zebra Rush, kuawa

About:

A perennial rush that proliferates in the diverse habitats of swamps and the edges of various waterways. This plant grows from creeping rhizomes, reaching an impressive height of up to 1.6m, showcasing thick blue-green stems accompanied by distinctive brown flowering seed spikes. It is perfectly suited for thriving in wetland areas, making it an excellent choice for water treatment plants, swamps, and similar environments where moisture is abundant.

Natural habitat:

Coastal to montane up to 300m. Mostly in standing water, growing in brackish or freshwater systems such as lakes, ponds, lagoons, river and stream margins. Also found well inland around geothermal systems.

Growing environment:

Sun, Salt, Wetland & Wind tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s North, South and Chatham Islands. Found throughout the North Island, but in the South Island present in Nelson, Marlborough, Westland otherwise only around Christchurch and Lake Ellesmere. On the Chatham Islands known from one place - where it is possibly introduced. Otherwise found throughout the world.

Height: 2m

Flowering: 

November – January

Fruiting:

January - May

Uses:

Riparian plantings & Pioneer Plantings

How to grow:

Easily grown from fresh seed and the division of whole plants. An important and valuable plant for treating effluent and other polluted water, and so now widely used in artificial wetlands for this purpose.

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