What does it look like?
Pyp grass is a strongly rhizomatous perennial grass (<1.5 m tall) with erect, cane-like stems and short rolled leaves. The slender seedhead (10-20 cm long) has purplish seeds from spring to summer. It spreads via seed and rhizomes, and was intentionally planted in the past for dune stabilisation.
Why is it a problem?
It grows and matures rapidly, tolerates hot, dry to damp conditions and produces massive amounts of widely dispersed, moderately long-lived seed. It’s invasive in short tussockland, herbfields, bare land and wetlands, mainly on coastline and sand dunes, where it can outcompete native groundcover species.
Control methods
Pyp grass is part of the National Interest Pest Response program. Control of this plant where it occurs is led by MPI.
Pyp grass is known to still be present at one coastal site in the North Island, Turakina Beach, south of Wanganui. This site is currently under control with the aim to eradicate pyp grass from this site and therefore New Zealand.
More information
- Pyp grass is part of the National Interest Pest Response program. Control of this plant where it occurs is led by MPI.
- Pyp grass formerly existed at Blackhead, Central Hawke’s Bay but has been eradicated from this area.
Related links
- Pyp grass eradication | NZ Government
- Pyp grass • Weedbusters
- NPPA and the control of weeds | NZ Government
- National Interest Pest Responses programme
Management Programme
National Pest Plant Accord
All plants on MPI's National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) are unwanted organisms under the Biosecurity Act 1993 whose formal or casual trade contributes significantly to their spread.
Plants on the Accord cannot legally be propagated, distributed, or sold in New Zealand. If allowed to spread further, these pest plants could seriously damage our economy and environment.
Notifiable Organism
Any organism specified under the Biosecurity Notifiable Organisms Order 2016 must be reported to MPI if spotted. If any of these organisms become established in New Zealand, they could severely affect our primary production, trade, and market access. If you spot a notifiable organism, you have a legal obligation under section 44 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 to tell MPI. Call the pests-and-diseases hotline on 0800 80 99 66.
More informationUnwanted Organism
An unwanted organism is any organism that's capable of causing harm to natural or physical resources (like forests and waterways) or human health. A number of introduced pests in New Zealand are classed as unwanted.
More informationNational Interest Pest Responses programme
Nine harmful weeds are managed under the National Interest Pest Responses (NIPR) programme. These pests could cause serious harm to New Zealand's environment and economy if they are allowed to spread.
More informationTaxonomies
FamilyPoaceae
TypePlants
GroupGrass
HabitatLand
Management ProgrammeNational Pest Plant AccordNotifiable OrganismUnwanted OrganismNational Interest Pest Responses programme
