Yalba™ Blady Grass

Yalba Blady Grass (Imperata cylindrica) is a tough, compact grass for roadsides, slopes and median strips. It grows about 40cm high and 1m wide, up to 30 to 50 per cent shorter than the common form, and carries fluffy white plumes for four to five months from about April to August. It spreads fast by rhizome, so it must be contained by a hard edge.

Why you'll love it

• Plumes for months. The feathery plumes last four to five months, around April to August, when the yearly trim is done on time.
• Colour in winter. The foliage turns reddish in winter, so the plant looks different when many grasses look tired.
• Compact and dense. It is shorter than the common form and grows very thickly.
• Smothers weeds. The dense growth outcompetes weeds, which saves on maintenance across large areas.
• Erosion control. Ozbreed reports it strengthens soil by a factor of 5.45, and says it locks up more carbon in the soil than most grasses.

Where it works best

Roadsides, slopes and median strips. This is what Yalba is for. Plant 50cm apart, about four plants per square metre (Ozbreed's range is three to six), and the rhizomes knit the cover together.

Erosion control on banks. The dense rhizome network holds soil on slopes, and the cover shuts out most weeds.

Not for ordinary garden beds. It spreads quickly and needs concrete or another hard edge, so it suits a contained strip, a planter pit or a roadside verge, not a mixed border. Plant it as a monoculture, because it will crowd out anything beside it.

Growing Yalba Blady Grass in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. Ozbreed lists it for every state and the ACT. It is extremely frost and drought tolerant and also tolerates humidity, which covers subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and drier inland gardens. It must be contained by a border.

Soil. Sandy to heavy clay.

Water and feed. Water as required for the first 8 to 13 weeks until established. After that it is no or low maintenance.

Pruning. To get masses of white plumes, trim or slash it once a year in late February to March. That timing sets up the display from autumn into winter.

What to expect when it arrives

We list Yalba Blady Grass in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Plant it inside your hard edge from the start, so the rhizomes have somewhere to go. Grass travels well, and a flattened leaf lifts again within days. Stock comes from Ozbreed's licensed growers and is not always available, so a size shows as sold out when no grower has it. The notify button on this page emails you the day it is back.

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

• More groundcover plants for Australian gardens
• See the full Ozbreed range
• Grasses and strappy leaf plants
• Plants for retaining walls and slopes

Common questions

Can I plant it in a garden bed?

Only if the bed is enclosed by concrete or another hard edge that the rhizomes cannot cross. Otherwise it will spread into lawn, paths and neighbouring plants.

How do I get the best plumes?

Trim or slash it once a year in late February to March. The plumes then last four to five months, from about April to August.

How many plants do I need?

Allow three to six per square metre. At 50cm spacing, a pack of 10 covers about two and a half square metres.