pūrua grass

Bolboschoenus caldwellii | pūrua grass, Caldwell’s clubrush

 

A robust, rhizomatous sedge forming dense stands of upright, grass-like foliage. Fresh green growth emerges in spring, followed by compact yellow-brown flowering spikelets through the warmer months, before dying back and becoming dormant over winter. Found in wetlands, swamps, and along river and lake margins, it thrives in waterlogged soils and shallow water, tolerating inundation and fluctuating levels. Its strong root system makes it effective for erosion control and soil stabilisation, while providing habitat for wetland wildlife.

salt marshes

estauries

brackish streams

wet

moist

full sun

height | 1.5m

width | 1m

flowering | October–January

fruiting | December–May

The name Bolboschoenus comes from the Greek bolbos (a swelling or bulb) and schoinos (rush or reed), referring to the plant’s bulbous tubers, a feature that distinguishes it from the closely related genus Schoenus.