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Carex virgata
(Pukio, Swamp Sedge)

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Prices:

	Each	20 or more
2.5L Pot	$9.50	$9.00

Details:

Type:	Grass
Growth Rate:	Fast
Mature Height:	1 m
Mature Width:	1 m
Site Condition:	Exposed, Frost Tolerant, Heavy Soil, Loamy Soil, Sandy Soil, Waterways
Sun:	Full Sun, Part Shade
Drainage:	Dry, Moist, Wet
Frosts:	Hardy
Features:	Attractive to birds, insects and lizards. Flower colour: Tawny. Foliage colour: Green. Fruit colour: Brown. Native. Suitable restoration species.

Carex virgata, commonly called Swamp Sedge or Pukio, is a vigorous sedge suitable for swamps, drain margins, seepages and wet pastures. A successful colonising plant, used for wetland planting and revegetation. Suitable for conditions which may vary periodically from very wet to very dry. More dry tolerant and shorter than C. secta. Evergreen. Hardy.

It pairs well with Carex secta (also called Pukio) for bank stabilisation. As it handles being in a swampy area, it is ideal for lower bank planting in riparian revegetation projects. It is also useful in water treatment projects as it minimises nutrient runoff. This makes it ideal for planting streamside on farms.

Carex virgata is widespread in open, swampy conditions and also in damp sites within lowland forest. In parts of the country this sedge is often the dominant carice of lowland alluvial forest. Found in communities that include but are not limited to Apodasmia similis, Carex maorica, Carex secta, Phormium tenax, and Eleocharis acuta.

Habitat: Widespread from sea level to about 1000 m a.s.l. in open, swampy conditions and also in damp sites within lowland forest. In parts of the country this sedge is often the dominant carice of lowland alluvial forest.

Flowering: Spring [October - December]
Fruiting: Summer [December - May]

My Lists: DrainField, Wetland