Indigenous pond and wetland plants

Wetland or bog plants consist of reeds, sedges and bulrushes and are commonly associated with cleaning polluted waterways, provide a habitat for many birds, shelter to fish and food for grazing animals.

One of our more common indigenous varieties Cyperus textilis Thunb. belongs to the family Cyperaceae. It is a sedge and is often found in our gardens as well as in wetlands or marshland. It grows along streams, in dams and pools, in coastal wetlands and estuaries.

These sedges are drought and frost resistant. They can be grown anywhere from water logged soil to shallow water or in dryer soils, in full sun or in full shade, in water features or in containers.

Common names include emezi grass, mat sedge, umbrella sedge, basket grass.

Wetland sedges are well adapted to regular harvesting and grow rapidly after being cut. This decorative plant is often used to weave baskets, twine rope, make sleeping mats and for building traditional huts.

Photograph courtesy of Christien Malan & Alice Notten

Traditional weaving of baskets