Little Pal Lomandra

Little Pal Lomandra (Lomandra confertifolia 'Little Pal') is the fine leaved native mat rush for edges, borders and mass planting where a full sized lomandra would be too big. It forms a neat tussock about 40cm tall and 40cm wide, holds that size without clipping, and copes with drought, frost, heat, poor soil and periods of wet feet. Small cream flowers sit down in the foliage in spring and carry a light perfume.

Why you'll love it

• It stays small on its own. At 40cm by 40cm it never outgrows a border, so there is no annual cutting back to keep it in bounds.
• Tough at both extremes. Drought tolerant and heat tolerant, yet it also handles wet feet, which very few fine leaved grasses will.
• An Australian native that suits the whole country. Tropical through to cool temperate gardens, and frost hardy once established.
• Safe around pets. Not toxic to cats or dogs, so it can go straight into a lawn edge or a dog run.

Where it works best

Borders, edging and mass planting. Plant 40cm apart for a dense mass planting that reads as a continuous ribbon of fine green within two seasons. The same spacing works along a path or driveway edge.

Groundcover and rockeries. Because it takes poor soil and dry spells, it holds gravel beds, rock pockets and awkward strips that irrigation does not reach well.

Pots and containers. One plant fills a 250mm to 300mm pot, and three or five in a trough give a soft fine textured filler that asks for very little.

Growing Little Pal Lomandra in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the tightest tussock, and it accepts part shade with a looser habit. It grows across tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens, and is frost hardy once the roots are down.

Soil. Almost anything, including poor sandy or clay ground. It prefers reasonable drainage but tolerates soil that sits wet for a while, which makes it useful along swale edges and downpipe runs.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer to settle it in, then only in long dry spells. A native fertiliser in early spring is optional rather than necessary, and heavy feeding just makes it floppy.

Pruning. None required. If a clump looks tired after several years, cut it back to about 10cm in early spring and it reshoots quickly.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes as tubestock and in 140mm pots sold in packs of ten. Both are young plants with a modest fan of leaves rather than a full tussock, which is exactly how mass planting stock should look. The pack of ten is the practical buy for edging or a bed, since these fill out fast at close spacing.

Strappy foliage travels well, though outer leaves can crease or brown at the tips in transit and are best trimmed off. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. Expect a full tussock within one to two seasons.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete lomandra care guide
• Browse the full lomandra range
• Compare plants for mass planting
• More plants that are safe for pets

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

40cm apart for a dense mass planting or a solid edge. Stretch it to 50cm if you want each tussock to read as a separate mound rather than a continuous band.

Is it safe for dogs and cats?

Yes. Little Pal is not toxic to cats or dogs, and the fine leaves are soft rather than sharp, so it suits gardens where pets run through the beds.

Will it cope with a wet spot?

It tolerates wet feet better than most fine leaved grasses, so seasonal boggy ground is fine. Permanently waterlogged soil is still too much for it.