Australian Native Grasses

Native Grasses are a diverse group of plants with many Australian grasses being well known as clump forming grasses well suited for landscaping uses.

Landscaping Uses

Some species are used as Ornamental Feature Plants, some as lawn substitutes, others as bio filters and some for pastures and grazing. Many are suited for mass planting or ground cover plants.

Native grasses come in four main types :

1. Landscaping or Ornamental Grasses.
2. Revegetation Grasses
3. Aquatic Grasses
4. Lawn substitute Grasses

The ornamental varieties are widely used in landscaping both as feature plants and for mass planting where low maintenance is a factor.

The search for the ideal native grass continues in Australia. while many clumping species are used in landscaping it is the true ‘ grass like’ varieties that are currently being developed.

Lawn Substitutes

Lawn substitutes are also being developed although not widely available at present.

A lot of research is being carried out into the suitability of grasses native to use as lawns in Australia, one promising species is Microlaena stipoides which is being trialled in a number of areas.

Another native grass, Hemarthria uncinata (matt grass) is a low growing grass that is being used as a trial at the Cranbourne Botanical gardens near Melbourne. A drought tolerant species that forms runners it seems to being establishing itself well as a lawn substitute. (see picture right)

Austrodanthonia geniculata is Wallaby grass and Austrodanthonia geniculata var Oxley is the one that is being touted as a lawn substitute, stays at around 30cm (much lower growing than Austrodanthonia richardsonii), slow to get going, but could well be worth the effort.

Or maybe Hemarthria uncinata is the answer for lawns also known as matt grass.

Ornamental Native Grasses

Native grasses offer a lot more to the gardener and landscaper than many may think. Lomandra and Dianella are well known however many other species have a lot to offer as well.

Longhair Plumegrass (Dichelachne crinita), is found throughout the South Pacific and is a tall growing perennial with feathery flower heads from spring to summer. Eragrostis elongata is known as Lavender Grass, an excellent selection for a part shaded position in the native garden, reaching around 30cm with taller flower spikes that appear in spring as the rains come.

Mass Planting

For roadside plantings Poa labillardieri is an excellent choice while Poa poiformis with its green or blue green foliage makes an interesting border plant, nice tight clumps.

Another native grass worth considering is Carex Appressa, a versatile grass that grows in moist or dry conditions, it forms a nice tussock and has yellow seed heads as well.

What about a grass for damper conditions, try Ficinia nodosa (syn Isolepis nodosa) or ‘Club Rush’ reaching around 1m this tough native grass will also do well in coastal conditions, as long as its damp.

And the Pennisetums, Pennisetum alopecuroides is perhaps the most widely used, be a little carful here as many will self seed, and can tend to be a little invasive, but not all.

Native Grass Species and Varieties

Many Australia native grasses such as Hermarthria uncinata are yet to be fully evaluated as to suitability for use in Australian Gardens as lawn substitutes. Ornamental Australian Grasses are widely used by landscapers and in the home garden.

A – Z List of Native Australian Grasses with common names.

• Austrostipa stipoides – Coast Spear Grass
• Bothriochloa macra – Red Leg grass
• Capillipedum spicigerum – Scented Top grass
• Carex appressa – Tall Sedge
• Carex fascicularis – Tassel Sedge
• Chloris truncata – Windmill grass
• Chloris ventricosa
• Cymbopogon refractus – Barbed wire grass
• Danthonia caespitosa – Wallaby grass
• Danthonia linkii – Wallaby grass
• Danthonia richardsonii – Wallaby grass
• Danthonia setacea – Wallaby grass
• Dianella caerulea – Blue Flax Lilly
• Dianella revoluta – Mauve Flax Lilly
• Dianella tasmanica
• Dicanthium sercieum – Queensland Blue grass
• Dichelachne crinita – Long haired plume grass
• Eragrostis elongata – Clustered Love Grass
• Ficona nodes – Knobbly Club Rush
• Hemarthria uncinata. A Native Australian grass that is currently being evaluated as a suitable species for lawn replacement.
• Hemarthria uncinata or ‘Mat Grass’ is a low growing (prostrate) grass that is a running grass, it forms roots from nodes on the runners.
• Imperata cylindrica – Blady grass
• Juncus bufonius -Toad Rush
• Lomandra confertifolia – Mat Rush
• Lomandra filiformis – Wattle mat-rush
• Lomandra longifolia – Spiny Mat Rush
• Marsilea mutica – Smooth Nardoo
• Microlaena stipoides – Weeping grass is another grass that is worthwhile trialling as a lawn substitute. Growing to 50cm ‘Weeping Grass’ prefers a semi shaded positions and seems to respond to mowing and to fertilizer. 
• Paspalum distichum – Water couch
• Paspalum vaginatum – Salt water couch
• Pennisetum alopecuroides – Swamp foxtail
• Poa labillardieri – Large Tussock grass
• Poa poiformis – Coastal Tussock grass
• Poa siebriana – Snow grass
• Sorghum leiocladum
• Spinifex sericeus – ‘Coastal Spinifex’
• Sporobolous virginicus – Sand couch
• Stipa scabra
• Stipa verticillata – Slender Bamboo grass
• Themeda australis – Kangaroo grass
• Themeda australis ‘Mingo’ – Dwarf Kangaroo Grass.
• Zoysia Macrantha – Zoysia Grass or Prickly Couch

You may also be interested in :

Australian native grasses can be found for sale online at the following nurseries

PROVINCIAL PLANTS and LANDSCAPES 
Native grasses, sedges, rushes, lilies, wetland plants, ornamental grasses and grass trees. Contract growing. Cells, tubes and pots. Contemporary water wise garden solutions and revegetation specialists. Unique garden decor, pots and original sculptures. Delivery available. www.plantsandlandscapes.com.au