Grass Tree

The grass tree reads as sculpture rather than greenery, and Xanthorrhoea glauca is one of the more forgiving species to grow at home. It holds a dense fountain of fine blue-green foliage above a slowly thickening trunk, settling at roughly 2m tall and 2m wide over ten to fifteen years. Growth is measured in centimetres: the trunk gains one or two a year, which is why a good specimen costs what it does.

Why you'll love it

• A true focal point. The arching skirt of narrow blue-grey leaves holds its shape all year and anchors a bed the way a rock does.
• Serious drought tolerance. Built for the dry ridges of eastern Australia, it rides out long rainless spells once the roots are down.
• Suited to most climates. Frost hardy, heat tolerant and wind tolerant, it grows in subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens.
• Feeds birds and insects. Mature plants send up a tall spike of cream to white flowers that draws honeyeaters, native bees and butterflies.
• Close to no maintenance. No pruning, staking or spraying, and it copes with poor gravelly soil.

Where it works best

Use it as a feature. One plant in gravel mulch beside an entry, a pool surround or a courtyard corner does more than a bed of shrubs, and the foliage suits stone, render and steel.

Rockeries and dry slopes are a natural fit, and it lasts for years in a large container, which suits small gardens and balconies. In a bigger space, plant in threes or fives with 1.5m to 2m of clear ground around each.

Growing grass trees in Australia

Position and soil. Full sun, six hours or more, with sharp drainage. Sandy, gravelly and rocky soils are ideal. On heavy clay, plant on a mound at least 300mm high mixed with coarse sand or gravel. Wet feet kills this plant.

Water and food. Water deeply once a week through the first summer, then taper off; after the first year most gardens can rely on rainfall. Low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring for the first few years is all the feeding needed.

Pruning. None required. Old leaves dry and form a skirt against the trunk, which is normal and protective. Trim it only for a cleaner outline; never cut into the crown.

By climate. Cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens are straightforward, and frost is no concern. In subtropical and humid summer areas, raise the planting position and keep mulch off the base to limit root rot.

What to expect when it arrives

Sizes run from tubestock and 140mm and 200mm packs through 400mm pots to advanced 175L and 500L specimens. Small grass trees arrive as a tuft of grassy leaves with no trunk yet: the trunk is built from decades of compacted leaf bases.

The roots resent disturbance, so plant the root ball intact, without teasing it out. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to build a low maintenance native garden
• Browse the full Australian natives range
• More drought tolerant plants for dry gardens
• Architectural plants for designer gardens

Common questions

How fast does it actually grow?

Slowly. Expect one or two centimetres of trunk a year, and about 2m tall and wide including foliage after ten to fifteen years. A larger pot size is the only shortcut.

Will it handle frost?

Yes. It comes from the ranges of eastern Australia and is frost hardy, so cool temperate gardens suit it. Winter waterlogging is a bigger risk than cold.

Can I grow one in a pot?

Yes, for many years. Use a wide, heavy pot with a free draining native or cactus mix, keep it in full sun, and step it up a size every few years rather than cutting roots.

Do I need to burn it to make it flower?

No. Fire triggers flowering in the wild, but garden plants flower on their own once mature, usually in spring. It is irregular, so treat the spike as a bonus.