Blady Grass

Blady Grass (Imperata cylindrica) is the native grass to reach for when a wide bank or an exposed coastal bed needs covering cheaply. It settles at about 80cm tall and 60cm across, with fine upright blades and soft white flower plumes through the warmer months. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, salt tolerant and happy in poor soil, it is one of the few groundcovers that will hold a difficult site without irrigation.

Why you'll love it

• It covers ground fast. Planted 60cm apart it knits into continuous cover within a season or two, which makes it a genuine alternative to mulch on a large bank.
• It handles what kills other grasses. Frost, long dry spells, salt spray and thin, poor soil are all within its range.
• Australian native and low input. It grows naturally across much of the country, so it needs no special feeding and one tidy up a year.
• Light and movement. The blades are fine enough to catch low afternoon sun, and the pale flower plumes carry through summer.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 60cm apart across a large bed for a continuous sweep of fine foliage. This is the use it does best, because the plant spreads by rhizomes and wants room to travel.

Coastal gardens. Salt and wind do not trouble it, so it suits front gardens near the beach and the sandy soils that come with them.

Borders and edging. Use it where there is a hard boundary it cannot cross, such as a path, driveway or mown lawn. In a small mixed border it will push into its neighbours.

Growing blady grass in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the densest, most upright clumps, though it accepts part shade with a looser habit. It grows through tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens, and being frost hardy it comes back reliably after cold southern winters.

Soil. Almost anything drained. Sand, gravel and compacted clay subsoil are all tolerated, and rich soil simply makes it run faster.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer to settle the roots, then rely on rainfall in most gardens. Feeding is optional; a light native fertiliser in early spring lifts the colour on very poor sites.

Pruning. Cut the whole planting back to about 100mm in late winter, before new growth starts. That single cut removes old foliage and keeps the stand looking fresh. Use an edge or root barrier where it borders a bed you want kept tidy.

What to expect when it arrives

Blady Grass is grown in two sizes: tubes, and 140mm pots in packs of ten. Tubes are small young plants, best for large areas where quantity matters more than instant effect. The 140mm packs give a fuller plant on day one and suit a bank you want covered in one season.

Grasses travel well. Some creased or bent foliage is normal after transit and grows out within weeks. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Designing with ornamental grasses
• Compare the range of grasses and strappy leaf plants
• See other options for mass planting
• Browse salt tolerant plants for coastal gardens

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Sixty centimetres apart for continuous cover. Closer planting costs more without closing the gaps much faster, since the rhizomes fill the spaces themselves.

Does it spread?

Yes, strongly, by underground rhizomes. That is exactly what makes it useful for mass planting and exactly why it belongs in a contained bed rather than a small border beside precious perennials.

Will it survive frost?

It is frost hardy. Foliage may brown off over a cold winter in southern and inland gardens, then reshoot from the base once the soil warms.