The Coast Sword-sedge grows as a dense tufting sedge alongside creeks and in our coastal dunes. it forms clumps 1.5m wide and high, with some specimens growing taller (up to 3m). It will flower in spring and summer with brown flowers on spikelets amongst the foliage.

As the species name suggests (gladiatum) the leaves of this plant are very tough, which help to protect them from salt in the dunes. They were also used by aborigines to make rope and shelter, and the succulent white base of the leaf is edible either raw or roasted.

Around 200 of this species have recently been planted with schoolkids at the Fisherman's Beach revegetation site in Torquay.