A History of Australian Native Grasses
The first reliable evidence of grasses in Australia appears in the mid-Eocene, around 45 million years ago. Around 5 million years ago during the Miocene the climate became dryer and grasslands increased their range. During the Pliocene–Pleistocene, around 3.5 million years ago summer active (C₄) grasses appeared, and grasslands become more widespread, especially in northern Australia with the development of monsoonal weather patterns. Other grasses adapted to the arid conditions and infertile soils throughout many other parts of Australia.
Sometime after the introduction of the first Australian people, about 50,000 years ago, fire was used as a tool to encourage the spread of grasslands. This created the pasture that would attract animals that formed a large part of their diet. The indigenous people maintained grasslands throughout most of Australia for thousands of years until its colonisation by the British in 1778. Over the following years Australia’s grasslands have been destroyed to make way for agriculture and development, and most of what remains has been degraded by the introduction of weeds and the grazing of introduced livestock and pest animals like rabbits. The best examples of our beautiful grasslands are now represented by small reserves, pockets on private land and roadside remnants.
Australias tropical savannas are dominated by C4 grasses
– Photo credit: Chris Findlay
This loss and degradation has come to a point where if we want to save our cherished grassy ecosystems and the plants and animals they support, their restoration is imperative. The most important ingredient for the restoration of our grasslands is weed free high-quality seed.
Benefits of Native Grasses
Native grasses have adapted to the many soil types and climates throughout our great continent, and our native fauna has evolved to live with our native grasses. Some insects that rely on our native grasses are threatened with extinction because of the loss of suitable grassy landscapes. Read more about the benefits of native grasses →
Why can Native Grass Seeds be Challenging to Establish?
While establishing native grasses from seed requires patience and the right approach, understanding their growth patterns can significantly improve success rates. Unlike introduced pasture and lawn grasses, Australian native grasses have adapted to survive in low-nutrient soils and extreme conditions. Their seeds can be slow to germinate and establish, and they often exhibit dormancy mechanisms that require specific conditions to germinate. Read more about the challenges of establishing native grasses →
Native Grass Types and Varieties
Millions of years of evolution have made Australia’s native grasses perfectly suited to the landscapes they occupy, but what features might you be looking for when selecting a suitable species for your application? Nearly all of Australia’s native grasses are deep rooted and perennial, so when they become dormant, they are not dead, they will spring back to life when conditions are favourable. Read more about the different types and varieties of native grasses →