Lepidosperma elatius
tall sword-sedge
Eastern and southeastern Australia, New Zealand
Overview
Lepidosperma elatius is an evergreen sedge forming large, dense clumps of flat, sword-shaped leaves 3-10 feet (1-3 m) tall and about 0.2-0.6 inch (5-15 mm) wide, with sharp edges and a bluish-green to grey-green color. The leaves and flowering stems are stiff and upright, rising from thick, scaly rhizomes that knit into a solid base. Brown flower clusters are carried in narrow heads near the top of the stems in spring and summer, followed by small hard nutlets. Plants spread slowly outward by rhizome to form expanding tussocks. Growth is moderate once established. The clumps tolerate seasonal flooding, drought, and periodic fire, regrowing from the rhizome. The sharp leaf margins can cut skin on contact, and the bulk of mature clumps takes up space in a planting.
Native Range
Native to eastern and southeastern Australia from Queensland through New South Wales and Victoria to Tasmania, and to New Zealand. Grows in damp forest, gullies, creek banks, and swamp margins on a range of moist soils, often in dappled shade.Suggested Uses
Grown in rain gardens, pond and creek margins, and moist native plantings, spaced 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m) apart to allow for clump size. It binds soil on damp banks and shelters small animals. The sharp leaves make it unsuited to narrow paths or play areas.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 10'
Width/Spread3' - 6'
Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years
Colors
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
bluish-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to part shade on moist to wet soils, tolerating seasonal flooding and short dry spells once established. Water through the first season to settle the clump. The thick rhizome makes mature plants hard to divide or move. Plants resprout from the rhizome after fire or cutting. Sharp leaf margins can cut skin during handling, and clumps spread steadily and need room.Pruning
Old or damaged leaves can be cut back near the base in late winter to make way for fresh growth. Whole clumps tolerate being cut to ground level and reshoot from the rhizome. Spent flower stems can be removed or left standing.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 7 gallons