Common tussock grass

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; clumps are usually denser in sun.

Water

Water regularly during establishment. Established plants tolerate dry spells, but occasional deep watering keeps them looking better during prolonged drought.

Soil

Adaptable to sandy, loamy or clay soils with reasonable drainage; tolerates seasonal moisture but not persistently stagnant, waterlogged ground.

Height

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m), including flower stems

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Late spring through summer; airy green to purplish-brown flower panicles fade to straw-coloured seedheads.

Foliage

Evergreen. Long, narrow, arching leaves, green to grey-green, with older straw-coloured leaves collecting around the base.

Growth

Moderate to fast

Care needed

Low

• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.1 ft (0.35 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.3 ft (0.7 m)

3. After 2 years

   3 ft (1.1 m)

   full size

About 2 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

Australia

Growth rate

Fast

• Water deeply through the first growing season, allowing the soil surface to dry between waterings.
• Leave enough space for the mature tussock rather than crowding it against paths or smaller plants.
• Use little or no fertiliser; rich feeding can produce loose, floppy growth.
• Apply a light mulch around new plants, keeping it clear of the crown.
• Divide congested or hollow-centred clumps in spring and water the divisions until established.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, comb or rake out dead leaves and remove old flower stems. If a clump needs complete renewal, cut it to about 6-8 in (15-20 cm) above ground as new growth begins, rather than shearing it repeatedly.

Spring

Plant or divide clumps once the soil is workable; water thoroughly.

Late spring

Check moisture around new plants and remove weeds before the tussocks fill out.

Summer

Deep-water during prolonged drought if leaves are drying extensively.

Autumn

Leave sound foliage and seedheads for structure, or remove seedheads before seed drops if seedlings are unwanted.

Late winter

Remove accumulated dead foliage; renovate untidy clumps as spring growth starts.

• Plant in broad drifts beneath open-canopied trees for a soft, grassy understorey.
• Repeat clumps through perennial borders to link flowering plants with a consistent texture.
• Use on banks and broad slopes where established roots help hold surface soil.
• Set beside rocks, gravel or simple paving to contrast arching leaves with firm edges.

Garden styles it suits: Australian native, Native meadow, New perennial (prairie), Coastal, Low-maintenance and Modern rustic.

Plant it with: Flax lily, Lomandra, Billy buttons and Yarrow.

Wildlife: Dense tussocks shelter insects and other small animals, and seed-eating birds may visit the seedheads. The flowers are wind-pollinated rather than a nectar source for bees.

• Crown rot in stagnant, waterlogged soil: improve drainage or move the plant to a better-drained position.
• Floppy growth in deep shade or heavily fertilised soil: provide more light and stop unnecessary feeding.
• A dead or hollow centre in an old tussock: divide it in spring, keeping vigorous outer sections.
• Unwanted seedlings in open soil: remove flower stems before seeds ripen and pull seedlings while small.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people; no part is recognised as poisonous. Dry grass material can still cause mechanical irritation if chewed or lodged in sensitive tissues.

• Blue tussock grass (Poa sieberiana)

  Usually forms smaller tussocks with finer, more bristle-like, often blue-grey leaves. Common tussock grass generally makes a larger, more arching mound; flowering material may be needed for certain identification.

• Coast tussock grass (Poa poiformis)

  Often has a stiffer, more upright habit and blue-green foliage, particularly in exposed coastal settings. The species overlap in appearance, so leaf colour alone is not a reliable distinction.

Poa comes from the Greek word for grass, while labillardierei honours the French botanist Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardière.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in spring, retaining rooted sections with healthy shoots. Alternatively, sow seed in spring in a well-drained seed compost and keep evenly moist; seedlings may differ in size and foliage colour.

Accepted botanical name

Poa labillardierei

Native range

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.

Measured

Average height 69 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.