Call us: 0800 843 752Free shipping for orders $150 or over
Gift Vouchers

Lepidosperma australe

Southern Sword Sedge, Austral Sword Sedge

Lepidosperma australe is a stiffly upright rush with blue-green foliage. Brown seed heads are borne across the plant during summer. This NZ native, perennial grass typically grows to 1 m tall and 50 cm wide, but can grow to 2 m tall in favourable environments. Lepidosperma australe is commonly added to a mixed planting, mass planted on a bank, used in riparian plantings, or included in wetland areas.

Lepidosperma australe grass growing in a wetland.

Lepidosperma australe (Southern Sword Sedge) is currently unavailable.

Notify me when this is available:
Please enter your email address below if you would like to know when it becomes available again.

Suited to regions:All regions
Plant type:Grasses
Height:1.00 m
Spread:50 cm
Flowering time:Summer
Tolerances:Coastal, Hardy, Wet
Garden uses:Borders, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Ponds, Pool areas
Garden styles:Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Modern, Native, Riparian
Easy to grow?Yes
Maintenance requirementsLow
Growth rateMedium
Also known asSouthern Sword Sedge, Austral Sword Sedge
Sku10123

What growing conditions does Lepidosperma australe prefer?

Lepidosperma australe thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained to seasonally wet soils. It performs well in sandy, loamy, or peaty soils and tolerates poor fertility and coastal conditions. This sedge is well-suited to wetland margins, damp garden spots, and coastal restoration projects. Once established, it is hardy, low-maintenance, and tolerant of light frost, wind, and salt exposure, making it ideal for naturalistic or ecological landscapes.

Questions and Answers

Have a question about Lepidosperma australe (Southern Sword Sedge)? We are here to help.

More species and varieties of Lepidosperma

Lepidosperma laterale plant with colourful foliage.
Most Popular

Lepidosperma laterale (Variable Swordsedge)

Lepidosperma laterale, commonly known as the Variable Swordsedge, is a sedge with green foliage that is often orange-red at the base. Brown seed...

Popular Grasses

Carex buchananii with lush brown foliage growing as a specimen plant in a rock garden.
Most Popular

Carex buchananii (Buchanans Sedge)

Carex buchananii, commonly known as Leatherleaf Sedge, is a striking New Zealand native grass-like plant with delicate, upright, copper-bronze...

From$13.43
Chionochloa flavicans (Miniature ToeToe) plants with cascading cream-coloured flowers.
Most Popular

Chionochloa flavicans (Miniature Toetoe)

Chionochloa flavicans, commonly known as Miniature ToeToe or Dwarf Toe Toe, is a highly popular NZ native grass. It has flowing, green foliage and...

From$9.01
Miscanthus Morning Light growing as a clump with variegated leaves.
Most Popular

Miscanthus 'Morning Light'

Miscanthus 'Morning Light' (Maiden Grass) is a refined ornamental grass valued for its fine narrow foliage edged with silvery white. This elegant...

From$18.83
Lomandra White Sands with elegant, variegated foliage in a courtyard garden.
Most Popular

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
Garden icons like Rhododendron Scented Sun and Coprosma Hawera (Sand Coprosma) lead the way, but there’s magic in discovering Corokia Pounamu, Ficus lyrata (Fiddle-Leaf Fig), and Pseudopanax ferox (Toothed Lancewood).
–The Plant Company

Explore Garden Inspiration

Sign up to receive a free $10 Voucher You won’t be bombarded with emails, just titbits of quality information from time to time Sign up
Free shipping on orders over $150!

Join our community of happy customers.

4.9

429 Google reviews