Pīngao is a native sand-binding plant and was a prominent feature of New Zealand’s dune land. Its tufts of coarse grass-like leaves are a rich golden colour and are borne on long, thick rope-like stems trailing across the dunes. The colouration of pīngao makes it stand out against the grey-green of spinifex (kōwhangatara), our other native sand-binding grass species.Pīngao is a sand binder and dune builder. Wind blown sand is trapped amongst its leaves, which accumulates and supplies nutrients to the plant. The stems continue to sprout new shoots as the sand shifts and covers them. The seed heads are conspicuous with their rigid dark spikes which grow above the leaves and bear hundreds of dark brown seeds
