native grasses for shade
Finding the right native grasses for shade can transform tricky, low-light corners of your New Zealand garden into lush, living features. Whether you’re designing a shaded border, planting beneath established trees, or enhancing wetland edges, native grasses bring a beautiful softness, help suppress weeds, provide habitat for wildlife, and require far less maintenance once established. The secret to success is choosing species that naturally thrive in the dappled light or gentle shade of New Zealand’s forests and stream banks.
Baumea articulata
Baumea articulata, commonly known as the Jointed Twig Rush, is an attractive, NZ native grass grown for its aesthetics and ability to handle and colonise extremely wet soils. It forms a dense sward as it grows to 1.5 m tall, which provides an excellent habitat for frogs and water birds. New leaves emerge light green, then age to dark green, and are complemented by brown flower heads throughout the summer. Baumea articulata will happily grow in fresh, standing water (e.g., dams, swamps, creeks, and drainage areas) up to 1 m deep. This is a favoured plant among landscape designers constructing wetland areas.
From $19.25
Poa cita
Poa cita, commonly known as Silver Tussock, is a clump-forming NZ native grass with delicate, green foliage that wafts gracefully in the breeze. It typically grows to 60 cm in height and 50 cm in width, preferring a full sun or partial shade position on a well-drained site. Poa cita is also often included in borders, rock gardens, mass-planted on a bank, or planted to help minimize erosion. Landscape designers in NZ frequently use Silver Tussock in alpine-themed gardens or modern gardens for their rounded, architectural form.
From $9.95
