Grasses, Tussocks and Lilies
This sections includes Grasses, Lilies and Irises.
Grasses - Grasses are all members of the Poaceae family which is one of the largest families in the world. We have a large variety locally including both annual and perennial species which form either tufts or are spreading. Grasses are an important part of our local biodiversity, their foliage provides food for mammals and insects (particularly caterpillars) and seed provides food for parrots and other birds. Grasses also provide hiding places for smaller inhabitants such as skinks and insects, nesting materials for birds and protects the soil from heating and drying out in summer. Aboriginies used many grasses for food, medicines, woven baskets and clothing.
Lilies and Irises - These cover a number of different families locally and are often very showy making an excellent addition to any garden. Lilies and Irises are usually small tufted plants which die back to their tuberous rootstock each year, reshooting in early winter. There are several larger species which remain above ground all year round also. Aboriginies ate the fleshy roots of many local species.
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Anthosacne scabra - Common Wheat Grass
0.4-1.2 m x 20-40 cm
Open tufted perennial grass.
Drier, well drained, gravel and alluvial clays; full sun, semi-shade.
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 - Tall Spear-grass
(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.
Austrostipa pubinodis ssp. australis - Tall Spear-grass
(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.
Austrostipa rudis ssp. australis - Veined Spear-grass
to 1.2 m high
Tufted, rhizomatous perennial.
Moist soils; semi-shade to full shade.
Austrostipa rudis ssp. rudis - Veined Spear-grass
to 1m high
Tufted, rhizomatous perennial.
Moist soils; semi-shade to full shade.
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 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 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 revolouta - 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 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.
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Dichelachne crinata - Long-hair Plume-grass
0.5-1 m high
Perennial tufted grass.
Well drained soils.; full sun, semi-shade.
Photo unavailable
Dichelachne rara - Plume-grass
0.7-1 m high
Perennial tufted grass
Moist to dry soils; full sun, semi-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.
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Hookerochloa hookeriana - Hooker's Fescue
1.2 - 1,8 m high
Dense grass tussock.
Moist soils, tolerating winter inundation; full sun, semi-shade.
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 ssp. coriacea - Wattle Mat-rush
15 - 47 cm high
Tufted lily.
Moist, well drained clays or sands tolerating dry shady conditions once established. Full sun, semi-shade.
Lomandra filiformis ssp. filiformis- Wattle Mat-rush
6-25 cm x 15-20 cm
Tufted lily.
Moist, well drained clays or sands tolerating dry shady conditions once established. Full sun, semi-shade.
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.
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.
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.
Photo unavailable
Rytidosperma fluvum - Copper-awned Wallaby Grass
Synonym: Danthonia caespitosa, Austrodanthonia caespitosa
0.8 - 1m
Variable perennial grass often forming a dense tussock.
Photo unavailable
Rytidosperma geniculatum - Kneed Wallaby Grass
Synonym: Danthonia caespitosa, Austrodanthonia caespitosa
20-40 cm x 20 cm
Perennial grass often forming a dense tussock.
Moist to well drained sand and clay loams; 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.
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 ssp. lutea - 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.
