Raptor Dinosaur Grass

Raptor Dinosaur Grass (Stylidium armeria 'Raptor') is a native trigger plant that grows 40cm high and wide. Grassy rosettes of green leaves send up tall, slender, airy spires of pink four-petalled flowers in spring. It is drought and frost tolerant, comes from woods and open bushland between Queensland and Tasmania, and suits cottage gardens, borders and pots.

Why you'll love it

• Airy pink flower spires. Slender stems carry pink four-petalled blooms well above the grassy leaves each spring.
• A native you rarely see. Stylidiums are little known in gardens, so this is a plant most visitors will not have met.
• Drought and frost tolerant. It copes with dry spells and cold, which suits many gardens in the south and the east.
• Insect-triggered flowers. Like other trigger plants, each flower fires pollen at a visiting insect, which is fun to watch.
• Neat and low. At 40cm by 40cm it tucks into the front of a border or into a pot.

Where it works best

Cottage gardens and mixed borders. Slender pink stems sit comfortably among soft perennials and herbs. Plant 40cm apart in small groups for a gentle cloud of flower in spring.

Edging. A row at the front of a bed, with plants 40cm apart, makes a loose, grassy edge that flowers above the leaves.

Pots and containers. A pot is a good way to give it the free-draining, low-nutrient conditions it appears to prefer.

Growing Raptor Dinosaur Grass in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun or dappled shade. It is native to the east and south of Australia, from Queensland to Tasmania, and suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens. It is drought and frost tolerant. It is new to cultivation, so we are still learning how it responds, but its native range suggests it is adaptable.

Soil. Plant in soil with good drainage and low nutrient levels. It seems to prefer lean soil, so skip rich compost and heavy feeding.

Water and feed. Water through the first summer and in long dry spells. It seems to prefer a reasonably reliable rainfall, though established plants are drought tolerant.

Pruning. Plant it and leave it. Most stylidiums dislike root disturbance, so avoid moving or digging around the plant.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Raptor Dinosaur Grass as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives as a small rosette of grassy leaves, and flower spires follow in spring once it is settled. Plant it where you want it, because it does not like root disturbance later.

The tube is grown for us by our grower, who is not always able to fill it. If it shows as sold out, the notify button on the page will email you the day it is available again.

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 all Australian natives
• Perennial plants for a cottage garden
• Frost hardy plants
• Designing a native garden for wildlife

Common questions

Is it really carnivorous?

Stylidiums have sticky hairs on the flower stems that trap tiny insects, so they are often called carnivorous. The catch is small, and the plant still feeds mainly through its roots.

Can I move it after planting?

Try not to. Stylidiums dislike root disturbance, so choose the right spot first and then leave it alone.

How far apart should I plant it?

Plant 40cm apart. That matches its mature width and lets neighbouring plants just touch.