Cymbopogon refractus – Barbed Wire grass

Barbed Wire grass is also commonly known as Lemon Scented grass. You will find this grass growing in abundance along coastal areas of eastern Australia. In the wild, this grass commonly occurs in eucalyptus woodlands and grasslands. Barbed Wire grass can occur naturally in the Northern Territory, although it is listed as a threatened species. This grass grows across a wide range of soils from sand to loam to clay and in full sun to partial shade

Barbed Wire grass is a long-lived perennial with the plants life time being anywhere between 5-25 years. It is most notable for its seedheads which have a barbed wire appearance, hence the name. Plants are upright and noninvasive and reach from 1.2 to 1.5 m tall under normal conditions and can produce a large quantity of leafy growth. Along with other grasses in the Cymbopogon family, the leaves emit a strong lemon scent when crushed.

This native Australian grass survives under the very harshest conditions of drought as long. This is as along as areas are not heavily grazed. As a pasture grass, it provides valuable fodder on poor soils and will produce reasonable quantities as long as not heavily grazed. In some landscaping circumstances it can be considered as an alternative to Kangaroo grass as the seedheads are equally distinctive and the plants are similar in size and form. Important grass for restoration projects. This includes eroded areas, quarries and mines with rocky, skeletal substrates without topsoil

Due to quarantine retrictions this species is Not permitted in WA.