Grey Tussock Grass

Grey Tussock Grass (Poa sieberiana) is the fine leaved native tussock to reach for when the broad strappy plants look too coarse. It forms a soft grey green clump about 60cm tall and 60cm wide, lifting to roughly 80cm when the airy seed heads rise. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, native to eastern Australia and safe around pets, it is an easy native to plant in numbers.

Why you'll love it

• Fine texture, not spiky. Hair thin grey green leaves that move with the wind, softer in a bed than lomandra or dianella.
• Tough where it counts. Frost, heat, drought and poor rocky soil are all within range once the roots are down.
• It feeds small birds. Finches and wrens take the seed and use the clump for low cover.
• Pet friendly and low maintenance. Not toxic to cats or dogs, and it asks for one cut back every second year.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 50cm apart, about four per square metre, in drifts rather than rows. At that spacing the clumps meet in two seasons and read as a single sweep of grass.

Borders and edging. A single row at 50cm softens the edge of a path or driveway, and at 60cm high it never blocks a sightline.

Rockeries and small gardens. It suits gravel and rocky ground, and a few clumps between larger shrubs give a native bed movement without bulk.

Growing Grey Tussock Grass in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to light shade. It is at home in cool temperate, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens, taking frost and summer heat alike. It is not the pick for the humid subtropics or tropics, where wet in the crown thins it out.

Soil. Any reasonably drained soil, including poor, rocky and shallow ground. Rich, wet beds make it soft and floppy. Mulch lightly and keep the mulch clear of the crown.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then rainfall carries it. A low phosphorus native fertiliser once in spring is enough, and only if growth looks weak.

Pruning. Cut the clump back to about 10cm in late winter every second year, which clears old growth and brings on a fresh flush. In between, comb the dead leaf out by hand.

What to expect when it arrives

Three sizes are grown: tube stock, 140mm pots in packs of ten, and 200mm pots in packs of six. Tubes are the value option for a large drift. The 140mm and 200mm plants are a season or two ahead, for smaller beds where you want the look sooner.

Grasses often arrive with creased or browned leaf tips from transit. Trim the worst of it, plant, and water in. Expect little visible change for a month, then steady growth through the first warm season. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare options in grasses and strappy leaf plants.
• Read our guide to designing with ornamental grasses.
• Browse the wider Australian native range.
• See what else plants well in numbers in mass planting plants.

Common questions

Is it safe for pets?

Yes. Poa is not toxic to cats or dogs, and the leaves are soft rather than sharp, so it is a sensible native grass for a garden with animals.

Will it grow in a humid coastal or subtropical garden?

Not well. It is built for cooler, drier and Mediterranean conditions, and in high humidity the centre of the clump stays damp and rots out. Choose a subtropical native grass instead.

Does it self seed?

Lightly, into bare ground and gravel. Seedlings are easy to pull or hoe, and removing the seed heads after flowering stops it if you would rather it stayed put.

Do I have to cut it back every year?

No. Every second winter is enough, and combing out the dead leaf works in between. Leaving it uncut for years is what produces a woody, hollow centre.