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Poa labillardierei

common tussock grass

Poaceae South-eastern Australia

Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Poa labillardierei is an evergreen perennial grass forming a dense tussock 24-47 inches (60-120 cm) tall and 24-39 inches (60-100 cm) wide. The leaves are narrow, rolled or folded, 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) long and about 0.1 inch (2-3 mm) wide, blue-green to grey-green, with a rough surface and drooping tips. Branched, open flower panicles 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) long rise above the foliage in spring and summer, green to purplish at first and ageing to straw-brown. The seed heads shed many small seeds that germinate freely on bare ground. Growth is moderate to fast, and a tussock reaches full size within 2-3 years. The base builds up old leaf bases over time, and the centre of a clump can die out as it ages. Foliage can brown at the tips in drought and frost but recovers from the crown.

Native Range

Native to south-eastern Australia, including New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia. Grows in grassland, open woodland, and along streams and drainage lines on moist, fertile loams and clay-loams.

Suggested Uses

Planted in native grassland gardens, mass plantings, rain gardens, and along watercourses for erosion control, spaced 18-30 inches (45-75 cm) apart. Used in revegetation and as a habitat and seed source for birds and insects. The seeding habit can spread it into open ground beyond the planting.

How to Identify

Identified by a large dense tussock of narrow blue-green to grey-green leaves with rough margins and drooping tips, and by open airy flower panicles 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) long. The leaf blades are rolled and rough to the touch. Distinguished from Poa sieberiana by its larger size and broader, greener leaves.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 3'11"

Width/Spread2' - 3'3"

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers from mid-spring through summer, with the main display in late spring. The panicles open over several weeks and age to straw-brown, holding their form into autumn. Flowering is heavier on moist, fertile sites.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

green to purplish, ageing straw-brown

Foliage Description

blue-green to grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay silt

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade on moist, fertile soils, including clay and seasonally wet ground, and also tolerates drier sites once established. Water through the first season to settle in; established tussocks tolerate periodic drought but stay greener with summer moisture. Plants are frost hardy and stay evergreen in mild winters. Cut or comb out old foliage in late winter to refresh the clump and remove dead leaf build-up. The centre of old tussocks can die out, at which point division renews the plant. Self-sown seedlings appear on bare ground.

Pruning

Cut tussocks back to about 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) in late winter every one to two years to remove old growth, as plants left untrimmed accumulate dead leaf bases. New growth reshoots from the crown in spring. Divide crowded or hollow-centred clumps in spring.

Pruning Schedule

winter