Grasses, Tussocks and Lilies
Arthropodium milleflorum - Pale Vanilla Lily
0.3-1.3 m x 30 cm
Grass-like tufted perennial herb
Pale pink or white flowers.
Moist well drained, often rocky, soils; full sun, semi-shade.
Arthropodium strictum - Chocolate Lily
0.2-1.2 m x 20-80 cm
Narrow, flat or slightly channelled leaves.
Violet or deep pink flowers on long stalks.
Well drained soils; full sun, semi-shade.
A most attractive and adaptable plant. Ideal for a rockery.
Austrostipa pubinodis - Stipa pubinodis
(Tall Spear Grass)
0.6-1.3 m high
Tufted, rhizomatous perennial.
Rough or smooth, tightly inrolled or folded leaves.
Moist to well drained soils.
Bulbine bulbosa - Bulbine Lily
20-50 cm x 30 cm
Densely tufted perennial herb.
Yellow star-like flowers.
Moist heavy soils; full sun, semi-shade.
Plants die back to the rootstock in dry weather.
Deyeuxia quadriseta - Reed Bent-grass
0.15-1.5 m x 40 cm
Open, sparsely tufted perennial tussock.
Rough, flat to slightly inrolled leaf.
Poorly drained soils; full sun, semi-shade.
Large clumps are attractive in flower.
Dianella admixta - Black Anther Flax-lily
Syn: Dianella revoluta
30-80 cm x 0.5-1.5 m
Dense to open tufted perennial. Dark green, finely serrated, linear leaves with blue fruit.
Dry well drained soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
A very tolerant plant once established. Ideal for growing close to trees.
Dianella amoena - Matted Flax-lily
To 45cm x 1-5 m
Narrow, tapering bluish to grey-green leaves with large, sweetly scented violet flowers.
Well drained to seasonally wet fertile sandy loam to cracking clay soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
A threatened species, endangered nationally.
Dianella laevis var laevis (caerulea) - Paroo Lily, Blue Flax-lily
0.3-1.5 m x 50 cm
Soft, spreading linear leaves with pale to dark blue flowers and purple berries.
Moist to dryish well drained clay and clay-loam soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
An attractive, easily maintained clumping plant, ideal for growing under trees. Aborigines used leaves for basket making.
Dianella longifolia - Pale Flax-lily
1.3 m x 0.4-1 m
Pale-leaved tufted plant, purplish-blue flowers, blue fruit.
Well drained skeletal soils often associated with rocky outcrops. Full sun, semi-shade.
Attracts indigenous bees.
Dianella tasmanica - Tasman Flax-lily
0.6-1.5 m x 0.5 - 2 m
Very robust tufted perennial. Large fruit, violet berries. Strong many-branched panicles of metallic blue to deep purple flowers.
Moist soils, preferable in a cool position. Semi-shade to full shade.
Dichelachne sieberiana - Plume-grass
0.3-1 m high
Narrow, flat, rough hairy leaves. Sparse, loose, often drooping panicles 4-25 cm long.
Well drained soils. Semi-shade.
Diplarrena moraea - Butterfly Flag
0.3-1 m x 0.5-1 m
Dense tussock-forming perennial herb. Beautiful white iris flower. Strap-like dark leaves.
Relatively well drained soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
A very attractive plant.
Echinopogon ovatus - Forest Hedgehog-grass
0.15-1 m high
Slender erect or scrambling grass. Very rough, flat leaves tapering to a point.
Moist soils. Semi-shade.
Eragrostis brownii - Common Love-grass
10-50 cm x 30 cm
Spreading flat leaves.
Moist soils, seasonal wetlands in shallow water. Full sun, semi-shade.
A decorative grass for rockeries.
Hemarthria uncinata - Mat Grass
40-80 cm x 1-3 m
Rigid, matted grassy sward.
Requires moist soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
Vigorous plants may grow to 1 m high on sheltered sites.
Imperata cylindrica - Blady Grass
0.1-1 m high
Erect coarse, vigorously spreading grass. Dense, fluffy, cylindrical spike-like panicles.
Moist, well drained soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
Flowerheads are extremely ornamental.
Lomandra filiformis - Wattle Mat-rush
6-25 cm x 15-20 cm
Narrow green leaves, numerous small globular yellow flowers.
Moist, well drained clays or sands tolerating dry shady conditions once established. Full sun, semi-shade.
An attractive rockery plant.
Lomandra longifolia ssp. exilis - Spiny-headed Mat-rush
30-60 cm high.
Leaves are narrower than the more common variety.
Dry conditions.
Lomandra longifolia ssp. longifolia - Cluster-headed Mat-rush
0.5-1 m x 0.5-1.2 m
Dense tussock plant. Large clump, strap leaves.
Well drained soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
Grows well under established trees.
Lomandra multiflora - Many-flowered Mat-rush
30-90 cm x 30-50 cm
Rigid, narrow, greyish leaves, yellow flowers in densely whorled clusters.
Well drained soils, tolerating extended dry periods once established. Semi-shade.
An attractive plant for gardens and containers.
Microlaena stipoides - Weeping Grass
1 m x 60 cm (highly variable)
Spreading to semi-erect smooth to rough flat leaves.
Moist, well drained soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
One of the best lawn grasses for shady sites.
Microseris lanceolata - Yam Daisy
15-50 cm x 15-25 cm
Tufted perennial herb regenerating annually from fleshy, branched or turnip shaped tuberous root.
Long toothed leaves with a single bright yellow daisy flowerhead.
Moist to well drained soils. Seli-shade.
Tuberous rootstock was a staple part of the Aboriginal diet.
Patersonia fragilis - Short Purple Flag
20-60 cm x 40 cm
Bright, deep purple flowers. Stiff narrow blue-green leaves.
Moist to seasonally wet sandy soil. Full sun, semi-shade.
Attractive rockery plant.
Patersonia occidentalis - Purple Flag
20-80 cm x 30-60 cm
Compact clumping perennial herb.
Bluish-purple or occasionally white flowers. Flat leaves.
Poorly drained winter wet, summer dry conditions in sand or clay-loam. Full sun, semi-shade.
Suitable for bog gardens or pond edges but also tolerant of drier positions.
Phragmites australis - Common Reed
1-3 m high
Semi-aquatic, fast growing, bamboo-like grass.
Seasonally or permanently wet and poorly drained soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
An attractive waterside plant for dams and large ponds. Keep in a container to prevent it taking over.
Poa ensiformis - Purple-sheath Tussock Grass
0.8-1.5 m x 0.5-1.2 m
Dark green grass forming loose to dense tussocks.
Moist clay-loam soils. Semi-shade to full shade.
Vigorous grass, ideally suited to moist, shaded sites but can become invasive under ideal conditions. Useful for controlling erosion.
Poa labillardieri - Common Tussock Grass
0.5-1.2 m x 0.5-1.5 m
Large, course densely tufted tussock.
Moist to wettish alluvial soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
A vigorous grass with many forms, commonly used in large landscape projects.
Poa morrisii - Velvet Tussock Grass
0.5-1 m x 30-60 cm
Softly hairy, dense bluish-grey tussock.
Moist to dryish well drained soils, often poor or rocky soil. Full sun, semi-shade.
A most attractive grass.
Poa sieberiana - Tussock Grass
50-80 cm x 0.3-1 m
Attractive dense green tufted grass.
Well drained soil, tolerating short dry periods. Full sun, semi-shade.
Very adaptable. Establishes well under existing eucalypts.
Poa tenera - Slender Tussock Grass
5-50 cm x 0.5-2 m
Bright green, soft, trailing grass.
Moist soils. Semi-shade to full shade.
Very effective trailing down embankments.
Rytidosperma caespitosa - Common Wallaby Grass
Synonym: Danthonia caespitosa, Austrodanthonia caespitosa
0.9-1.2 cm x 40 cm
Variable perennial grass often forming a dense tussock.
Moist well drained soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
Rytidosperma pallidum - Red Anther Wallaby Grass
Synonym: Joycea pallida
1.5-1.8 m x 50-70 cm
Spreading tufted perennial grass with fine green or bluish leaves.
Well drained dryish soils. Semi-shade.
A most attractive grass, especially in flower, forming large clumps.
Rytidosperma penicillatum - Slender Wallaby Grass
Synonym: Danthonia penicillata, Austrodanthonia penicillata
To 20 cm x 30 cm. Stems to 60 cm high
Fine, weeping perennial grass.
Moist well drained soil. Semi-shade.
A distinctive graceful grass.
Rytidosperma pilosum - Velvet Wallaby Grass
Synonym: Danthonia pilosa, Austrodanthonia pilosa
To 50 cm x 30 cm
Erect or flattened tufted perennial grass.
Dryish soils. Semi-shade.
Rytidosperma racemosum - Clustered Wallaby Grass
Synonym: Danthonia racemosa, Austrodanthoniaracemosa
To 20 cm high. Stems 10-80 cm high
Variable; slender tufts or dense tussock-forming perennial grass.
Dry to moist well drained soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
Useful for native lawns. Tolerates light mowing.
Rytidosperma semiannulare - Tasmania Wallaby Grass
Synonym: Danthonia semiannularis, Austrodanthoniasemiannularis
To 60 cm x 40 cm
Erect tussock-forming perennial grass.
Moist light or sandy soils tolerating temporary inundation. Full sun, semi-shade.
Rytidosperma setaceum - Bristly Wallaby Grass
Synonym: Danthonia setacea, Austrodanthonia setacea
60-70 cm x 40 cm
Erect, slender, densely tufted perennial.
Adaptable, ranging from sandy to heavy soils usually in dryish conditions. Full sun, semi-shade.
Stipa rudis - Spear Grass
Synonym: Austrostipa rudis
To 1.2 m high
Erect inrolled leaves to 40 cm long.
Moist soils. Semi-shade to full shade.
Stylidium armeria - Thrift-leaved Triggerplant
0.2-1 m x 20-40 cm
Small tufted perennial herb, with pink flowers.
Moist well drained soils, tolerating dryish periods once established. Full sun, semi-shade.
An excellent rockery or container plant.
Stylidium graminifolium - Grass Trigger Plant
20-75 m x 10-50 cm
Small tufted perennial herb, with pink flowers.
Moderately well drained sandy or gravelly soil. Full sun, semi-shade.
Tetrarrhena juncea - Forest Wire Grass
0.6-3 m x 1-5 m
Wiry, scrambling or climbing perennial grass.
Moist soils, tolerating drying out in summer. Semi-shade to full shade.
Helps to prevent soil erosion.
Thelionema caespitosum - Blue Grass-lily
20-90 cm x 0.5-1.36 m
An attractive plant for a moist rockery. Blue, star-shaped flowers.
Moist sandy or peaty soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
Themeda triandra - Kangaroo Grass
0.3-1 m x 20-60 cm
Green to bluish-green (blue form) leaves, tussock grass.
Adaptable to most soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
Thysanotus patersonii - Twining Fringe-lily
Stems 0.1-1 m long
Light creeper, twining weakly on other plants. Numerous mauve to violet flowers.
Well drained soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
A delightful little climber, not noticeable until in flower.
Xanthorrhoea minor - Small Grass Tree
60 cm x 1 m
Dense grassy clump with yellowish flowers in a terminal spike.
Well drained soils, tolerating dryness once established. Full sun, semi-shade.
An attractive grassy clump. Especially prolific after fires.
