Austral grass tree (Xanthorrhoea australis) | Midstorey

When it flowers

January, not flowering
February, not flowering
March, not flowering
April, not flowering
May, not flowering
June, not flowering
July, not flowering
August, flowering
September, flowering
October, flowering
November, flowering
December, flowering

Grass tree, kangaroo-tail, xanthorrhoea australis, Grampians — Grass tree, kangaroo-tail, xanthorrhoea australis, Grampians. Photo: Papphase, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Austral Grass-Tree (Xanthorrhoea australis) photographed at Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne (Melbourne, Australia) in December — Austral Grass-Tree (Xanthorrhoea australis) photographed at Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne (Melbourne, Australia) in December. Photo: Raffi Kojian, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Xanthorrhoea australis Xanthorrhoea Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Asparagales Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae Austral Grass Tree with a ground cover of Compositae Chrysoc… — Xanthorrhoea australis Xanthorrhoea Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Asparagales Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae Austral Grass Tree with a ground cover of Compositae Chrysoc…. Photo: brewbooks from near Seattle, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Ancient-looking grass tree with a blackened trunk and a tall flower spear.

Extremely slow growing: a trunk can take centuries to form. Buy only from nurseries that sell licensed or nursery-grown plants.

In the garden

Feature plant

Leaves: A dense skirt of fine, stiff leaves.
Flowers: A long spear of tiny cream flowers rising well above the leaves.
Attracts: Birds, pollinating insects and shelter for small wildlife

Growing conditions

Climate: Temperate
Light: Full sun
Soil: Sandy and loam
Drainage: Needs good drainage
Frost: Moderate frost
Water: Very drought tolerant

Planting and care

Grown from: Seed

Planting

Needs very free-draining soil; avoid watering in summer once established.

Safety

Prickly or spiny

Leaf edges are sharp.

Where it comes from

Native to: New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria

Specialist native nurseries.

We don't have stockists listed for this plant yet. Local native nurseries are often the best place to ask.

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Further reading

Xanthorrhoea australis on the Atlas of Living Australia (Atlas of Living Australia)