Kangaroo Grass

An elegant, bronze-coloured perennial grass, with tall nodding seed heads in summer. Leaves are broad for a native grass and grow in a dense tuft. The distinctive seed heads occur in papery clusters on the stem with a prominent, dark-coloured bristle (awn) extending from each seed.

The attractive tussocks with arching seed-heads, are a beautiful feature when scattered through a naturalistic border or grassland garden. Dense swathes of this grass are striking when bronzed in late summer and help to suppress annual weeds when established. Taking inspiration from native grasslands, this grass looks stunning in a garden when combined with flowering perennials such as native daisies, lilies, peas and the Blue Devil. An important host plant for caterpillars of the Ringed Xenica and the Common and Shouldered Brown butterflies.

A robust, trouble free plant, with no special attention required. This is a “summer-active” grass, with a high tolerance of heat and drought once established, so they look good when other garden plants are dying off our wilting in summer heat and dry. Rejuvenate by  cutting back or a cautious burn. If plants are trimmed to 200 mm after some early rain in autumn, while the ground is still warm, the new growth will remain green through winter. Annual trimming is recommended when growing this grass in combination with smaller, flowering perennials, to avoid smothering.