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Scientific Name
Xanthorrhoea australis
Family Name
XANTHORRHOEACEAE
Common Name
Southern Grasstree
Status
Height
3.0m (300cm)
Flowers
In a dense hard columnar spike up to 1.5m long - very numerous, small, white.
Fruit
Capsule
Form
Perennial with an underground stem + a tall trunk densely covered with leaf bases.
Municipalities
Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Highlands; Clarence; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Kingborough; Latrobe; Northern Midlands; Waratah-Wynyard; West Tamar
Communities
Coastal Vegetation; Heath
Habitat Notes
Sandy soils in coastal or near-coastal areas, north west, north east, Furneaux Group and east coast.
Site Tolerance
Dry; Exposed; Moist; Windy
Frost Tolerance
Soil Tolerance
Loam; Phosphorous intolerant; Poor; Sandy; Well-drained
General Notes
Leaf bases and trunk exude a strong smelling resin which has been used as a substitute for shellac and is attractive to bees. Flowers spring-summer or following fire. Foliage burns fiercely, leaving persistent crowded leaf bases. Suitable below powerlines.
Propagation Details
Propagation Calendar
Flowering Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Collecting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sowing Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Cutting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Fruits numerous sharp-pointed capsules contained on spikes that turn from green to brown or black. cut stalks when capsules dry, darken and begin to split. each capsule holds two seeds,some need to be shaken out
Seed Treatment Method
Standard
Seed Storage Life
Short
Viable Seeds Per Gram
25
Seed Treatment Notes
Seed should be cleaned with sieves before sowing. Most species have good results from seed which should be sown fresh. Seed has short viability and seedlings are very slow growing, taking 2-3 years to reach plantable size. Plants need a well-drained, sunny position.
Germination Time
3-52 weeks
Suitable for Direct Seeding
Yes
Cuttings
Expected Time to Take Root
Expected Time to Plant Out
Propagation by Division
N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.
No
Cutting Notes
Copyright 2000-2009, Understorey Network Incorporated. Updated 2024-10-10
Database development and website design by
Andrew Smith