Little Cricket Lomandra

Little Cricket Lomandra (Lomandra hystrix 'Little Cricket') is the strappy native to reach for when the site is damp, shaded, or both. It forms a neat tuft about 50cm tall and 50cm wide, fine leaved and glossy rather than coarse, and it holds that shape for years without dividing or hard cutting. Native, pet friendly and close to maintenance free once the roots are down.

Why you'll love it

• It tolerates wet feet. Most lomandras sulk in damp soil. This species comes from creek banks, so drainage lines, low spots and rain gardens suit it.
• It performs in part shade. Under established trees and along shaded paths it stays green and full instead of thinning out.
• Neat and predictable. At 50cm by 50cm it does not sprawl into the lawn or over the edging.
• Pet friendly. Not toxic to cats or dogs, so it can go into a front bed or a courtyard a dog uses.
• Almost no annual work. No deadheading and no dividing. Small yellow flower spikes sit inside the foliage in spring.

Where it works best

Mass planting and groundcover. Plant 50cm apart for a dense sheet. At that spacing a pack of ten covers roughly two and a half square metres and closes over in one to two seasons.

Borders and edging. A single row 50cm apart along a path gives a soft green line, and the leaf tips are fine rather than sharp, so it is comfortable to brush past.

Retaining walls, slopes and pots. The fibrous root system knits soil together on a batter and takes the runoff at the base of a wall. In a 300mm or larger pot it works well, provided it is watered.

Growing Little Cricket Lomandra in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade both work, and part shade is where this one has the advantage over other lomandras. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens and takes light frost only. In cold inland or tableland gardens, choose a frost hardy Lomandra longifolia form instead.

Soil. Very adaptable, from damp clay to sandy loam. It handles waterlogging that would kill most ornamental grasses, and copes once dry. Mulch 50mm deep, out of the crown.

Water and feed. Weekly through the first summer, then rainfall is usually enough. One application of slow release native fertiliser in early spring keeps the colour up.

Pruning. None required most years. Pull out old brown leaves by hand, and if a clump looks tired after three or four years, shear the planting to about 15cm in late winter.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in three sizes: tubestock as single plants, 140mm pots in a pack of ten, and 200mm pots in a pack of six. Tubes are the sensible way to plant a large area, while the 200mm plants arrive as established tufts that read as finished on day one.

Strappy plants travel well. Expect some creased leaves from the box, which grow out within weeks. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our comprehensive lomandra care guide.
• Compare cultivars in the full lomandra range.
• Browse more plants that are safe around pets.
• For frosty gardens, consider Spiny Head Mat Rush Verday.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Fifty centimetres apart, centre to centre. Any tighter and you are paying for plants that will crowd each other.

Will it grow in shade?

Yes, part shade is one of its strengths. It stays fuller than most lomandras, though growth is slower and the flower spikes fewer than in an open bed.

Can it handle a wet or poorly drained spot?

It can. This species naturally grows along creek banks, so damp ground, swales and the bottom of a slope all suit it. It will not survive permanent standing water.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Yes. It is not toxic to cats or dogs, which makes it one of the more useful natives for a garden pets have the run of.