Grasses

Mass plantings of grasses add a great natural feel to garden spaces, and are a effective groundcover and evergreen alternative to a lot of perennials and shrubs which fill up our gardens. Grasses work well in both traditional gardens and contemporary settings, and are generally easy to grow and low maintenance. The key to success is choosing the right variety for your planting project; below we have listed a range of species from Japan, America, New Zealand, as well as some of our own native species.

	Astelia chathamica ‘Silver Spears’. A superb and versatile plant from New Zealand with completely silver flax-like foliage. Makes a bold statement in the mixed border with sedums and euphorbias or can be grown in gravel with succulents and alpine plants. Also a great pot plant. Full sun. 120 cm. 3 for $15	$7.50
	Astelia nervosa ‘Westland’. The usual form is silver but this variety has purple tinted leaves. Great in a large pot or tub, alternatively in the rock garden or border. Prefers well-drained soil. Full sun. 80 cm.	$7.50
	Astelia solandri. Epiphyte from the west coast of the south island of New Zealand with beautiful silvery flax like foliage, found growing in trees under leafy canopy. makes a good hanging basket or rockery plant in drained & shady conditions. Part sun to shade. 60cm.	$8.50
	Austrostipa stipoides. Native grass found mostly around coastal areas in Tasmania & Victoria, this is our local form from the southern channel area. It forms a lovely tussock in the garden & is less prone to die-back than some of the poa species. Part sun to full sun. 60cm.	$5.50
	Beschorneria yuccoides. From the famlily Agavaceae, a Mexican native with bold foliage resembling a giant yucca. Vivid red and green flowers. Full sun. 120 cm.	$5.50
	Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’. Tall growing ornamental grass, with attractive dark green foliage and feathery seedheads in summer. Part sun to full sun. 180 cm. 3 for $15	$6.50
	Deschampsia caespitosa. Evergreen mounding grass with delightful seedheads in Autumn, will not self seed like many native grasses do. Lovely with sedums & miscanthus. Part sun to full sun. 60cm.	$6.50
	Dianella tasmannica. Tasmanian perennial with vertical flax-like foliage and ornamental blue berries during the cooler months. Although frequently planted in open situations, in nature dianella is an understory grower and does look much better amongst other plants in part sun or shade. Part sun to shade. 80 cm.	$6.50
	Diplarrhena moraea. Native flag iris, native to Tasmania & useful for re-vegetation, coastal gardens , or foliage effect in combination with grasses & succulents. Lovely and abundant white flowers in Spring, evergreen leaves. Part sun to full sun. 80cm.	$5.50
	Elegia capensis. A versatile rush from South Africa that will grow in a surprising range of conditions. The tall foliage is particularly good all year round and the new growth resembles bamboo. Good for structure amongst herbaceous plants. Part sun to full sun. 180cm. 3 for $18	$7.50
	Lomandra longifolia. Native perennial for mass planting with grasses, or for ground cover & in-fill between larger shrubs like banksia & dodonea. Evergreen upright foliage, drought tolerant and quick growing. Trim back every 4 years. Part sun to full sun. 80cm.	$5.50
	Miscanthus ‘Adagio’. A recent import by us. Like a miniature ‘Sarabande’ type but only to knee high. Typical feathery seed heads in autumn. Part sun to full sun. 60 cm.	$7.50
	Miscanthus ‘Sarabande’. A perennial grass with fine silvery green foliage, colouring bronze in autumn. The flowers and seedheads are an attractive fan shape. Clumping and non-invasive. Part sun to full sun. 120 cm.	$7.50
	Miscanthus sinensis ‘Variagata’. Tall architechtural grass for the herbaceous border or formal plantings with variagated white and green leaves. Semi evergreen but best cut back every few years. Part sun to full sun. 150cm.	$7.50
	Panicum virgatum ‘Rubrum’. Upright grass colouring well in Autumn . Favoured by contemporary designers for winter colour & structure. Part sun to full sun. 80cm.	$7.50
	Phormium ‘Surfer’. An attractive semi dwarf flax with bronze leaves, which contrasts well with Astelia ‘Silver Spear’ and Aeonium ‘Schwarzkopf’. Part sun to full sun. 60 cm.	$6.50
	Phormium tenax var. purpureum. Purple leaf form of the ‘New Zealand Flax’. Evergreen and long-lived, a useful texture plant for background plantings with Miscanthus. Part sun to full sun. 150 cm. 3 for $15	$5.50
	Poa gunnii. Alpine tussock found in Tasmanian alpine areas. It does suprisingly well in most garden conditions providing it is well drained. Part sun to full sun. 60cm.	$5.50
	Poa poiformis. Native tussock with attractive flowing foliage forming a large tussock. Useful for coastal gardens where they will seed happily. Trim back every 3 years. Part sun to full sun. 60cm.	$5.50
	Stipa arundinacea. Gracefully weeping evergreen grass colouring bronze & silver in Autumn. Useful as foreground to more upright varieties like Miscanthus ‘Sarabande’ and Calamagrostis ‘Karl Forester’. Part sun to full sun. 80cm.	$6.50
	Stipa gigantea. Native to Spain, Portugal and Morocco, a spectacular tall grass with attractive seed heads in autumn. Takes a few years to achieve maturity but well worth the wait. Full sun. 200 cm. 3 for $20	$7.50
	Stipa gigantea ‘Beth Chatto Form’. Improved form with wider leaf blades than the species & larger inflorescence. A beautiful plant for larger spaces. Part sun to full sun. 140cm.	$7.50