Schoenus loreus is a species of sedge endemic to locations near the southern coast of South Africa.

[1] Schoenus loreus has wider habitat preferences (e.g. thornveld and grasslands) compared to S. australis, which usually grows on coarse-textured soils along the southern coast of South Africa.

[3] Other notable genera in tribe Schoeneae include Costularia, Lepidosperma, Oreobolus, Tetraria and Gahnia.

[3][1] The genus Tetraria once included species from the southern African Schoenus; however, based on molecular and morphological differences, we now know that the two groups are evolutionary distinct.

[1] Specimens of S. loreus have been collected from a variety of habitats, including renosterveld, sandstone fynbos, thornveld, roadsides and grasslands.