kamu
Carex uncinata | kamu, bastard grass, hook sedge, matau-a-maui
An evergreen, perennial sedge valued for its richly coloured, arching foliage and fine texture. Leaf colour varies with light levels, remaining deep green in shade and shifting to warm red-brown tones in full sun. Slender leaves form tidy clumps that provide year-round structure and contrast in the garden.Hardy and low-maintenance, it grows well in most soil types and suits a wide range of conditions. In summer, distinctive mahogany-red flower spikes add further interest. Well suited to borders, containers, rock gardens, pond margins, and mass planting, it is especially effective for adding colour and texture in shaded or semi-shaded areas.
typical habitat.
coastal forest
lowland forest
montane forest
shrubland
riparian forest
drainage.
full sun
partial shade
sun.
moist
well drained
mature specifications.
height | 50cm
width | 40cm
pollinators calendar.
flowering | August–December
fruiting | Throughout the year
did you know?
One of this plant’s Māori names, matau-a-Māui, translates to 'Māui’s hook'” referring to the legendary ancestor Māui and the barbed hook he used to fish up Te Ika-a-Māui, the North Island of New Zealand. Its seeds also hitchhike. Each seed has a tiny, barbed, fish-hook-like extension that readily catches on socks, hair, feathers, and fur, allowing the plant to disperse widely along forest tracks and into new areas. This distinctive trait is the origin of one of its common names, bastard grass.