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nz ornamental grasses

New Zealand’s gardens are renowned for their lush, layered landscapes, and nothing achieves this aesthetic quite like nz ornamental grasses. These versatile, hardy plants offer texture, movement, and year-round colour, making them a favourite choice for Kiwi gardeners. Whether you’re designing a native garden, enhancing borders, or creating eco-friendly plantings, nz ornamental grasses bring a natural elegance that suits both contemporary and traditional spaces.

Carex flagellifera Green plant with lush and colourful foliage.

Carex flagellifera Green

Carex flagellifera Green is a NZ native, ornamental grass grown for its attractive foliage. It produces slender and lush, green leaves as it grows to 50 cm tall and the same width. Carex flagellifera Green is often planted around the base of larger trees, included in border plantings, mass planted either as a groundcover or on a bank, or used in coastal gardens. It also looks great in planters, particularly when the foliage can cascade to the ground.

From $13.43

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Grasses
Height: 50 cm
Spread: 50 cm
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wet, Wind
Garden uses: Banks, Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios, Ponds, Pool areas
Garden styles: Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Native, Riparian
Carex flagellifera Red plants.

Carex flagellifera Red

Carex flagellifera Red is a NZ native, ornamental grass grown for its colourful and attractive foliage. It produces slender and lush, copper-red leaves as it grows to 50 cm tall and the same width. Carex flagellifera Red is often planted around the base of larger trees, included in border plantings, mass planted either as a groundcover or on a bank, or included in coastal gardens. It also looks great in planters, particularly when the foliage can cascade to the ground.

From $13.43

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Grasses
Height: 50 cm
Spread: 50 cm
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wet, Wind
Garden uses: Banks, Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios, Ponds, Pool areas
Garden styles: Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Mediterranean, Modern, Native
Lomandra White Sands with elegant, variegated foliage in a courtyard garden.

Lomandra White Sands

Lomandra White Sands is a fabulous ornamental grass renowned for its variegated foliage. It features arching, cream, and green-striped leaves and...

From$25.58
Lomandra 'Misty Green' plants with cascading green foliage growing a bank.

Lomandra Misty Green

Lomandra Misty Green is an ornamental grass with delicate, dark green foliage and a tidy, rounded form. Growing to about 40 cm in height and width...

From$20.93
Carex comans green plants with dense, green foliage in a garden.

Carex comans Green

Carex comans Green is a NZ native, ornamental grass featuring slender and arching, lime green foliage. It grows as a tidy clump to about 40 cm tall...

From$13.43
Anemanthele lessoniana grass with colourful, orange and green foliage growing in a pot.

Anemanthele lessoniana (Pheasant's Tail Grass)

Anemanthele lessoniana, also known as Pheasant's Tail Grass or New Zealand Wind Grass, is a graceful, clump-forming ornamental grass native to New...

From$16.88
Lomandra Evergreen Baby growing as a ground cover with lush, green foliage.

Lomandra Evergreen Baby

Lomandra Evergreen Baby is a compact, evergreen ornamental grass known for its delicate, deep-green foliage and tidy, rounded form. Growing to...

From$17.48
Lomandra 'Arctic Frost' plant in a pot with variegated foliage.

Lomandra Arctic Frost

Lomandra Arctic Frost is a hardy ornamental grass featuring variegated blue and cream foliage held upright with a gentle arch. Growing to...

From$20.93
Lomandra Shara displaying fabulous blue-green foliage and growing beside a gravel path.

Lomandra Shara

Lomandra Shara is an ornamental grass renowned for its delicate, dark green foliage and graceful arching form. Reaching approximately 60 cm in height...

From$20.18
A large Calamagrostis 'Overdam' grass with elegant, variegated foliage.

Calamagrostis 'Overdam'

Calamagrostis ‘Overdam’ is a striking variegated ornamental grass that delivers elegant upright form and delicate texture to garden borders and...

From$22.88
Lomandra Little Pal plants with lush green foliage.

Lomandra Little Pal

Lomandra Little Pal is a compact ornamental grass grown for its fine, green-yellow foliage and tidy, rounded form. Growing to approximately 60 cm in...

From$16.13
Lomandra 'Seascape' grass with elegant, blue-green foliage growing beside a pond.

Lomandra confertifolia Seascape

Lomandra confertifolia 'Seascape' is a hardy, evergreen ornamental grass featuring slender, blue-grey foliage with a graceful, weeping habit. Forming...

From$20.93
Acorus gramineus variegata plants growing in pots with green and cream foliage.

Acorus gramineus variegatus

Acorus gramineus variegatus, commonly known as Variegated Sweet Flag, is an attractive ornamental grass-like plant prized for its elegant green and...

From$20.18
festuca-banks-peninsula-blue-1

Festuca 'Banks Peninsula Blue' (Blue Fescue Grass)

Festuca 'Banks Peninsula Blue' is a striking ornamental grass valued for its fine, steel blue foliage that forms neat, compact clumps. This hardy...

From$14.18
juncus-blue-dart-

Juncus Blue Dart (Blue Rush)

Juncus Blue Dart is a popular ornamental grass that features rigid leaves that are a fantastic shade of blue. It typically grows to 30 cm tall and...

From$17.89
Carex 'Frosted Curls' plants with elegant green foliage growing in a pot with other plants.

Carex Frosted Curls

Carex Frosted Curls is an ornamental grass with slender, hair-like, iridescent foliage that shimmers in light breezes. It typically grows to 30 cm...

From$13.43
Zebra grass (Miscanthus 'Zebrinus') leaves with cream and green stripes.

Miscanthus 'Zebrinus'

Miscanthus 'Zebrinus' (Zebra Grass) is a striking ornamental grass recognised for its bold horizontal yellow banding across arching green leaves...

From$21.53
Poa cita grass plants on a plateau overlooing the sea.

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...

From$14.18
Lomandra Green Allure plant with lush, green foliage.

Lomandra Green Allure

Lomandra Green Allure is widely used in landscaping projects across NZ. It is commonly mass planted as a ground cover or on a bank, included in...

From$20.18
An elegant Miscanthus sinensis grass with cream-coloured flower plumes and lush green foliage.

Miscanthus sinensis

Miscanthus sinensis is an ornamental grass that grows as a clump of narrow, arching, green leaves. The colouring gives a light silver-green effect to...

From$21.53
Hakonechloa albostriata plant with variegated foliage.

Hakonechloa macra 'Albostriata'

Hakonechloa macra 'Albostriata', commonly known as Japanese Forest Grass, is a stunning ornamental grass. It features variegated green foliage with...

From$22.88
Imperata 'Red Baron' with colourful, red foliage

Imperata Red Baron

Imperata 'Red Baron', commonly known as Japanese Blood Grass, features leaves that are green at the base and become red further up the blade. Through...

From$18.83
Lomandra Tankia with lush green foliage bordering a path.

Lomandra 'Tanika'

Lomandra Tanika is a hardy, Australian Native grass that is commonly known as Mat Rush. This grass features fine, deep-green foliage and a graceful...

From$24.23
A large planting of Stipa gigantea (Golden Oat Grass) as a feature garden.

Stipa gigantea

Stipa gigantea, commonly known as the Golden Oat Grass, is a large, ornamental grass. It grows as a clump and produces narrow, dark green leaves. The...

From$14.78
Lomandra Frosty Tops with lush blue foliage in a garden.

Lomandra Frosty Tops

Lomandra Frosty Tops is a hardy, evergreen grass featuring elegant, blue-grey foliage and a soft, weeping form. Growing to around 50 cm tall and...

From$18.83
Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' grasses as a mass planting and featuring elegant, cream-coloured flower heads as plumes.

Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster'

Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' is a popular ornamental grass known for its upright, clump-forming habit and tall, feathery flower plumes. It grows to...

From$22.88
Lomandra 'Echidna' grass growing as a mass planting beside a path.

Lomandra Echidna

The Lomandra Echidna grass is a tough and reliable plant with outstanding aesthetics. It features lush, mid-green foliage held upright with a gentle...

From$16.13
Ophiopogon japonicus Silver Mist grass in a garden.

Ophiopogon Silver Mist (Silver Mondo Grass)

Ophiopogon 'Silver Mist' is a dwarf silver Mondo Grass, and features fine, grass-like foliage that is variegated dark green and white. It typically...

From$8.78
Ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens (Black Mondo) plants with lush, black foliage.

Ophiopogon japonicus nigrescens

Ophiopogon japonicus nigrescens, commonly known as Black Mondo Grass, is a clump-forming plant with fine, near black foliage. The foliage is...

From$8.78
Ophiopogon japonicus (Green Mondo Grass) growing as a groundcover in a woodland garden.

Ophiopogon japonicus

Ophiopogon japonicus, commonly known as green Mondo Grass, is a striking ornamental grass. It grows as a clump and produces a dense tuft of...

From$8.78
Lomandra longifolia plant beside a path with lush, green foliage.

Lomandra longifolia (Basket Grass)

Lomandra longifolia (Basket Grass) is a resilient, evergreen ornamental grass native to Australia. Growing to approximately 60 cm in height and 65 cm...

From$16.13
Dactylis glomerata plant with a cat.

Dactylis glomerata (Cat Grass)

Dactylis glomerata, commonly known as Cat Grass or Catnip Grass, is a popular grass that is loved by cats. It features flowing, green foliage held as...

From$21.53
Carex flagellifera Green

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Acorus, Anemanthele, Calamagrostis, Carex, Dactylis, Festuca, Hakonechloa, Imperata, Juncus, Lomandra, Miscanthus, Ophiopogon Poa and Stipa, or related Categories - Grasses and Mondo Grass.

Search nz ornamental grasses

Why Choose nz ornamental grasses?

Ornamental grasses native to NZ are celebrated for their resilience and low-maintenance nature. They thrive in a variety of soils and climates, making them ideal for gardens across the country. Many nz ornamental grasses are evergreen, providing structure throughout the seasons. Their gently swaying foliage adds interest to windy coastal properties, urban plots, and rural landscapes alike.

Top NZ Ornamental Grasses for Home Gardens

Choosing the right grass for your space starts with understanding the diverse options available:

Design Tips for NZ Ornamental Grasses

When incorporating nz ornamental grasses, consider grouping them in swathes or mixing varieties to create texture and visual rhythm. Grasses work beautifully as accent plants, edging for pathways, or fillers in larger beds. Their movement catches the sunlight and wind, animating your garden and supporting local ecology.

Maintenance and Care

Most nz ornamental grasses require minimal care—occasional trimming and mulching will keep them tidy and healthy. Water established plants sparingly, as many are drought tolerant and don’t require frequent irrigation. Combining grasses like Carex flagellifera Green or Carex solandri with companion shrubs and natives further enhances their resilience and beauty.

Enhance Your NZ Garden With Ornamental Grasses

From the bold hues of Carex flagellifera Red to the soft textures of Lomandra Misty Green, NZ ornamental grasses can transform your outdoor space. Explore our range to find the perfect grass for your garden and enjoy the natural artistry these plants bring year after year.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

Illustration of plant leaves.
Start your garden with Rhododendron Scented Sun and Coprosma 'Hawera' (Sand Coprosma), and add depth with lesser-known gems like Carex dipsacea (Teasel Sedge), Cornus 'Eddie's White Wonder', and Acer palmatum 'Burgundy Lace'.
–The Plant Company

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