small ornamental grasses nz

Why Choose Small Ornamental Grasses?

Small ornamental grasses add more than just greenery – they offer fine textures, arching forms, and subtle colour shifts throughout the seasons. Many thrive in New Zealand’s diverse climates, handling everything from salty coastal breezes to dry inland gardens. These compact grasses usually remain under 60cm tall, making them ideal for borders, edging, underplanting, and containers. Most small ornamental grasses are also drought-tolerant and require minimal maintenance, making them incredibly popular with busy gardeners.

Top Small Ornamental Grasses for NZ Gardens

New Zealand's native and exotic grass range includes stand-out choices for structure and beauty. Explore some of our favourite options:

• Lomandra Little Pal: With soft, fine foliage and a tidy, clumping growth habit, Lomandra Little Pal is a versatile grass suited to pots, borders, and mass plantings.

• Lomandra Evergreen Baby: Offering evergreen appeal all year, Lomandra Evergreen Baby forms neat mounds, is highly tolerant of different soils, and works beautifully in both native and mixed planting schemes.

• Carex Frosted Curls: Renowned for its silvery, curling strands, this graceful grass adds a soft, flowing texture and catches the light, making it a true garden highlight.

• Juncus Blue Dart (Blue Rush): For a bold colour statement, this hardy blue rush creates vertical drama with steel-blue foliage, perfect for architectural plantings or modern garden designs.

• Carex flagellifera Green: Native to New Zealand, this species brings a lush, green cascade ideal for groundcover, erosion control, or adding native character to your landscape.

Design Tips for Using Small Ornamental Grasses

Small ornamental grasses shine when grouped in drifts, paired with colourful perennials, or used as a living mulch beneath larger shrubs. Try mixing varieties for contrasting shapes and hues – for example, combine the silvery tones of Carex Frosted Curls with the deep green arching leaves of Lomandra Little Pal or Carex flagellifera Green for a dynamic effect. Most small grasses prefer well-drained soils and full sun to part shade, and only need an occasional tidy-up to refresh their appearance.

Shop the Best Small Ornamental Grasses NZ Wide

Ready to transform your garden with small ornamental grasses NZ plant lovers keep coming back for? Browse our hand-picked selection of hardy, garden-proven grasses. Whether you're seeking natives or unique exotics, you'll enjoy resilient garden structure and easy-going beauty all year round.