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Native grasses for landscaping
Native grasses in a massed display
With global warming and the possibility of increasingly uncertain rainfall, there is a need to conserve water. The selection of plants for the garden and lawns will increasingly be based on drought tolerance criteria.
Australian native plants are already adapted to the climatic conditions and will survive periodic drought. Until recently the role of Australian native grasses in the domestic garden has been overlooked.
Grasses are an important part of the ecosystem as they are the initial colonisers. They help to bind and stabilise the soil, are a source of humus and provide habitat for animals, birds, reptiles and insects.
Australian native grasses are deep rooted and so help to conserve moisture in the soil. They have an important role to play in recharge zones in controlling soil salinity. The use of native grasses in the garden will help to restore indigenous landscapes which have been seriously degraded.
Grasses belong to the Poacea family. They are often used in conjunction with other grass–like plants, such as the rushes which belong to the Juncaceae family and the sedges which belong to the Cyperaceae family.
Australian native grasses have an array of tussocky habits with a wide variety of leaf shapes, textures and sizes. The foliage can be erect, falling, flexible or rigid. During the flowering season, the grasses send out stems carrying the infloresence and it is these flower heads which make the grasses an attractive garden feature. The flower heads remain for many months, even after the seed has fallen.
The grasses can be used to create interesting textures and accents in the garden, particularly when used with other native flowers, forbs and herbs.
There are many ways to use native grasses in the garden. They are attractive all year round, easy to maintain, use very little water and provide variation in texture and colour.
Grasses can fill in the gaps between small and medium sized perennials.
There are many ways to use native grasses in the garden. They are attractive all year round, easy to maintain, use very little water and provide variation in texture and colour.
Grasses can fill in the gaps between small and medium sized perennials.
Native grasses can be used as ground cover, particularly in difficult corners or areas in the garden. Some natives will grow in shade and cope with competition from tree roots. The ground cover grasses when established can retard and prevent weed growth. The natives are generally slow growing and are not very invasive.
Wallaby grass and Kangaroo paw
Native grasses can also be used for borders, along walkways or in rockeries. Massed plantings of Wallaby grass look most attractive when their cream flowerheads ripple in the wind.
When designing a garden with grasses, use tall spike species, such a Spear grass or Plume grass as a backdrop for lower growing ground covers. Alternate grasses with different shaped infloresences for contrast. Grasses with spikes can contrast well with grasses with open or feathery panicles.
Grasses of different shapes and textures create variety and interest in a garden bed when used as an understorey for larger native shrubs and trees.
Kangaroo grass
Kangaroo grass is a versatile grass for the garden. It grows in full sun or partial shade and is fast growing in the warmer months. It can be used either as a feature amongst other grasses, shrubs or flowers or planted in mass plantings. It flowers from November to March. To keep the tussocks under control and to keep vigour in the plants, prune in late summer to early autumn after flowering.
Wallaby grass
Wallaby grasses can play an important role in a grassland garden as they are excellent accent plants, particularly when in flower. They grow in full sun or in semi-shaded positions and require little maintenance. They can also be used for lawns or turf either on their own or with other species such as Weeping grass.
Weeping grass
There is a role for Weeping grass in the garden. It’s attractive and versatile in application. One of its main advantages is that it will grow in shade, so it can be used for lawn in shady spots. It is also drought tolerant and will survive long dry spells. It may brown off, but revives quickly when moisture is available. Weeping grass can provide good ground cover for bush gardens. It is not invasive, like couch or buffalo grass and can be trimmed back when it reaches the desired size. |
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Authors: Nola Parry and Jocelyn Jones, published 2002.
A full colour glossy small book of 160 pp. with pictures of Australian native grasses and grass-like plants in garden settings.
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$24.95 AUD
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