Christchurch plant guide

Wi, Silver Tussock (Poa cita)

Plant features, garden uses and care considerations for Christchurch and Canterbury. Use this page to plan your garden and find local maintenance help.

Wi, Silver Tussock plant photograph

Explore Wi, Silver Tussock (Poa cita), a grass & sedge included in this Canterbury plant reference. Foliage colours recorded include silver. Before planting in Christchurch, consider mature size, soil drainage, shelter and how much care the garden will need.

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Plant characteristics at a glance

Plant type
Grass & sedge
Botanical or cultivar name
Poa cita
Common name
Wi, Silver Tussock
Flower colours
not recorded
Foliage colours
silver
Light mentioned in source
Full sun
Flowering season in source
Summer
Garden use tags
Ground cover, Coastal gardens, Dry gardens, Restoration planting
NZ native
Not confirmed in this directory

Colours, seasons and tolerance descriptions are indicative. Flowering and growth can differ with cultivar, weather, soil and the particular garden site.

Where Wi, Silver Tussock may fit in a Christchurch garden

Tussocks and sedges bring texture and movement to mixed borders, but they need adequate space for their mature clumps.

Possible uses to explore include ground cover, coastal gardens, dry gardens, restoration planting. These are reference tags, not a guarantee of success on every property.

Look at existing hedges, paths, lawn edges and neighbouring plants before deciding where to place it. A compact city garden has different needs from an open rural or restoration planting.

Sun, drainage and local conditions

The source material mentions Full sun. Verify which exposure this particular cultivar prefers, especially if your section has reflected heat, strong afternoon sun or winter shade.

Coastal exposure appears in the reference notes, but shelter and salt wind still vary from street to street near New Brighton and Southshore.

Before planting, test soil drainage after rain and consider whether winter frosts, easterly winds or summer drying will affect establishment.

Care and maintenance

Plant in drifts only where the mature clump will fit. Remove tired foliage selectively and avoid treating every tussock like lawn grass; cutting requirements depend on the exact species.

Watering, feeding and pruning should follow the exact species and site. Observe the plant through the first full growing season; adjust the plan rather than applying the same schedule to every shrub, tree or flower.

Reference and plant identification

This entry draws on factual characteristics in a publicly listed Canterbury nursery catalogue. For identification details and more botanical information, see the Goughs Nurseries listing for Poa cita ↗. Kiwi Gardeners is independent of the nursery. We do not reproduce its photographs, descriptions or stock claims.

If you are unsure of a cultivar, check the actual plant label and seek horticultural advice before purchasing. Avoid introducing regulated or invasive species, and check local rules where relevant.

Need Christchurch gardeners to help maintain your outdoor space?

Dallas Timpson Garden Services welcomes enquiries about garden maintenance, lawn mowing, garden tidy-ups, pruning and green waste removal. Plant supply is not currently offered through this directory.

Call Dallas · 027 340 6581 Email a garden enquiry ↗

Learn about garden maintenance services in Christchurch.