The oioi (Apodasmia similis), also known as the jointed wire rush, is a native New Zealand rush-like plant valued for its distinctive grey-green jointed stems, tolerance of coastal and wetland environments, and low-maintenance nature. It typically grows in upright, tufted clumps between 0.6 and 1.2 metres tall and about 1 metre wide, with slender grey-green to bronze-green stems marked by dark brown or maroon rings at each joint. During spring to early summer (October to December), it produces small reddish-brown flower spikelets. Oioi thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers wet, boggy, or poorly drained soils, although it adapts well to a range of garden conditions. It is highly tolerant of coastal winds, salt spray, frosts, and periodic flooding, making it an excellent choice for rain gardens, wetland restoration, erosion control along waterways, and contemporary landscape planting.
