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 (NPPA)
The NPPA is designed to prevent the sale, distribution and propagation of a set list of pest plants (the Accord list) within New Zealand. If allowed to spread further, these pest plants could seriously damage the New Zealand economy and environment.
More informationNotifiable Organism
Some organisms must be notified to MPI if they're spotted in New Zealand. These include serious pests and diseases like foot-and-mouth disease, the rabies virus, fruit fly and disease-carrying mosquitoes. If a notifiable organism established in New Zealand, it could severely affect our primary production or 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.
The Biosecurity (Notifiable Organisms) Order 2016 lists notifiable organisms. New additions can be made by the Governor-General and MPI periodically reviews the list to ensure it is up-to-date.
Unwanted 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.
National Interest Pest Responses programme (NIPR)
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 Accord (NPPA)Notifiable OrganismUnwanted OrganismNational Interest Pest Responses programme (NIPR)
