Spear Grass

Spear Grass (Austrostipa densiflora) brings the movement of the Australian high country into designed gardens: a dense native tussock to about 70cm whose fine arching leaves and feathery seed heads catch every breath of wind. Massed at 50cm spacings it creates the soft meadow effect modern landscape design leans on, and it does it on bushland toughness, taking frost, drought, heat and the poorest soils without a second look.

Why you'll love it

• Movement and light. The silvery seed plumes glow when backlit and sway in the lightest air, animating beds that solid shrubs leave static.
• The meadow look, solved. Drifts of one species at tight spacing give the naturalistic planting style without the trial and error.
• Genuinely hard country genetics. A south eastern Australian native of dry slopes and ridges, at home in frost hollows and heat waves alike.
• Habitat value. Seed eating birds work the heads, and the tussocks shelter lizards and beneficial insects.
• Nearly zero care. No feeding, minimal water, and one tidy a year at most.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 50cm apart in drifts of ten or more; the effect compounds with numbers.

Borders and edges. A ribbon along a path or drive softens hard lines and moves all day.

Rockeries and slopes. Between boulders and across banks it binds soil and looks like it grew there.

A placement note. Like most spear grasses the sharp seeds can lodge in dog paws and ears, so keep it out of areas where dogs run and play.

Growing Spear Grass in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the densest tussocks and best seed display. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and semi arid climates, and hard frost is no problem.

Soil. Any drained soil, and the poorer the better behaved it is. No improvement needed at planting beyond loosening the hole.

Water and feed. Water weekly until established, then rainfall only. Skip fertiliser entirely; lean rations keep the form tight.

Maintenance. Cut or comb the tussocks back by half in late winter every year or two to refresh them. That is the whole calendar.

What to expect when it arrives

Spear grass ships as tubestock, the standard format for native grasses and the economical route to a massed planting; it is grown to order and shows as backorder, and we confirm timing with you before anything is charged or shipped. Tubes establish rapidly, reaching full tussock size and seeding within their first year. Delivery is Australia wide, from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse grasses and strappy leaf plants
• Plants for mass planting
• More plants for rockeries

Common questions

How many do I need for a meadow effect?

At 50cm spacings, four plants per square metre. A 5 square metre drift takes about 20 tubes, and generosity is what makes the style read as intentional.

Will it self seed everywhere?

Expect some seedlings nearby, easily hoed or transplanted, and welcome in naturalistic plantings. It is a local native, not an invader, but allow for a little movement in formal beds.

When should I cut it back?

Late winter, by about half, every year or two once clumps look tired. New growth comes away fast in spring.

Is it suitable for gardens with dogs?

Not in their run areas. Spear grass seeds are sharp and can work into paws and ears, so plant it in beds and verges dogs stay out of, and choose lomandra where they roam.