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. This makes them suitable for erosion control because they are very effective at binding the topsoil.
Summer active (C₄) grasses proliferated in the tropical north, but they also grow in the colder climates of southern Australia where they become dormant in the colder months. The southern states also have a large diversity of cool season (C3) grasses.
Tussock forming native grasses can look spectacular.
– Photo credit: Chris Findlay
Native grass used for soil stabilisation.
– Photo credit: Chris Findlay
Depending on where you live you might want a mix of C3 and C4 grasses. This can produce an outcome where there are actively growing grasses throughout most of the year which is useful for pasture or a dynamic landscape. It is worth noting that C4 grasses are only active in summer when there is enough soil moisture for them to grow.
Some species have awns on their seeds. An awn is a bristle-like appendage that sometimes looks like a hair and aids seed dispersion and planting. Some grasses have hygroscopic awns that move the seed along the ground when moisture activates them. If you look at the base of a Spear or Wallaby grass awn with a magnifying glass, you will see it is like a corkscrew. This winds up as the seed dries and unwinds when the seed becomes wet enough. If you have one of these seeds you can dip them in water and see the seed slowly twist around as the awn unwinds. This action can push the seed along the ground and guide it into cracks and crevices in the soil.
Our native grasses also come in different shapes or habits. The typical habit people think of is a tussock, but there are also native grasses that spread using tillers or stolons. These grasses are more suitable for lawns or turf as they can completely cover the soil. Tussock forming grasses have a more upright and visually striking form and make a great landscape feature. They also create “inter tussock” spaces where other plants like wildflowers can grow.
Many native grasses have attractive seed heads, or inflorescences. The combination of feathery seed heads sitting high on tussock forming grass is an impressive sight but sown en masse they can create a beautiful sea of vegetation that ripples like waves in the wind.