Meet Pīngao and Carex

Over the summer, we made two new and very different native plant papers using Pīngao and Carex grass.

Pīngao is a native sedge that grows on sandy beaches and dunes. It's ability to trap sand makes it an important plant in dune ecosystems, helping with both the formation and stabilisation of sand dunes. Unfortunately, it is under threat in many areas as it is often outcompeted by introduced marram grass. The dried leaves have a brilliant yellow colour, making them popular with weavers.

Due to its' threatened status and crucial ecosystem function, pīngao is not a plant we can harvest in the wild - however we were lucky enough to be given a bunch of plants by a friendly soul who had cleared them off her driveway and garden paths.

The paper has turned out very busy and cheerful - we love that the beautiful yellow colour has come through in specks.

Pīngao at Paraparaumu Beach

Pīngao paper

Carex grass is a diverse plant group with many native varieties that are abundant in gardens, parks and roadside plantings. What we love about harvesting carex is that we don't even need to cut it - at the right time of year, the long seed tillers of some varieties can be removed by simply combing through the plant with your hands. The downside of course being that there are then a lot of seed heads to be removed!

We feel that it's been worth the effort though - the processed seed tillers made a lovely bright and fine pulp that inspired Rob to get his washi on and make some lovely delicate (but strong) thin papers.

Carex paper

Carex grass

Both Carex and Pīngao papers are available in A4 and A5, only while stocks last!