Carex secta

The Carex secta, also known as Marsh Sedge or Pukio, is a plant native to New Zealand where it is endemic in wet areas, both in plains and mountains. This perennial forms a large upright clump with flexible and fine, evergreen foliage, ranging from green to intense green-yellow, which sometimes arches down to the ground. It produces numerous black flower spikes in summer. It is a sedge that prefers moist to wet, even marshy, well-drained soil and sunny locations, ideal as a waterside plant. It also seems to tolerate some dry shade, although its habit and foliage may be less attractive in such conditions.

The Carex secta belongs to the Cyperaceae family. It is native to New Zealand, where it is endemic and found in wet areas up to 900 m altitude. Mature plants have the ability in their native habitat to form large fibrous clumps called tussocks, from their own closely interwoven roots, which can reach up to 1 m in height. The Carex, resembling grasses, has a running root system. In our regions, the Carex secta forms in its youth an upright clump reaching 60 cm in height. Then its foliage gracefully droops and the adult clump reaches 1 m in height. It spreads with time and can form large colonies in moist or even waterlogged soils. Its evergreen leaves at the base are sheathing, long, thin (4 to 8 mm wide), and linear with tapered edges. They are a bright green to green-yellow color, more vibrant in the sun. The older leaves dry out in winter to make room for new leaves in spring. In June, black-brown flower spikes appear on the stems.

The Carex secta can be grown in any type of wet area, in full sun or partial shade. It is a useful plant for maintaining riverbanks and can also be planted for its ornamental qualities by the edge of a pond. It can be planted alongside other waterside plants, equally decorative, such as Acorus, Cirsium rivulare or purple plume thistle, Butomus umbellatus or flowering rush, Alisma parviflora, and Caltha palustris.