Eskdale Blue™ Tussock Grass

Eskdale Blue Tussock Grass (Poa labillardieri) is a compact tussock with deep blue, arching foliage that grows 45cm high and wide. Bred by Ozbreed for roadsides, mass plantings and tidy landscapes, it fills in quickly from small pots and tolerates drought, frost and, in recent tests, very wet conditions.

Why you'll love it

• Deep blue, arching foliage. A neat, compact tussock with a clean blue colour that suits ornamental landscapes.
• Grows in quickly. It establishes in weeks and gets its roots down deep, and Ozbreed says a planting looks mature within a year.
• Small pots do the job. It is happy planted from tubes or small pots, which keeps upfront planting costs down on big jobs.
• Drought, frost and wet. It is drought and frost resistant, and recent tests showed it handles very wet conditions.
• Beats weeds. At six or more plants per square metre it helps outcompete weeds.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 40cm apart, about six plants per square metre, which is the density Ozbreed gives for weed control. Its range is four to ten.

Roadsides and driveways. The tough, tidy habit suits verges and roadside plantings, and it asks for no fuss.

Ornamental borders. Plant 40cm apart along a bed edge for a band of blue that holds at 45cm.

Growing Eskdale Blue Tussock Grass in Australia

Position and climate. Drought and frost resistant, it suits full sun to part shade. Ozbreed lists it for New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia. The best planting time is March to October. Queensland and the Northern Territory are not listed, so trial a few plants first in the north.

Soil. A wide range of soil types suits it.

Water and feed. Water as required for the first 8 to 13 weeks until established. After that it needs very little.

Pruning. Cut it back hard each year to 15cm above the ground, in autumn, winter or early spring. On big plantings use machinery, then chop and drop the clippings as mulch.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Eskdale Blue Tussock Grass in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Ten plants cover about 1.6 square metres at 40cm spacing, so large areas call for several packs. They arrive upright and settle in within a few weeks, with new growth in warm weather.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse tussock grasses
• More grasses and strappy leaf plants
• See the full Ozbreed range
• More Australian native plants

Common questions

How many plants per square metre?

Ozbreed recommends four to ten. Plant six or more, 40cm apart, if you want it to outcompete weeds.

When should I cut it back?

Once a year, to 15cm above ground, in autumn, winter or early spring. It regrows with fresh blue shoots.

Can it handle wet soil?

Recent testing showed it handles very wet conditions as well as drought. It is still best in soil that eventually drains.

When is the best time to plant it?

Ozbreed gives March to October as the best planting window, which lets the roots settle in before the heat of summer.