GRASS
TREES
Xanthorrhoea australis |
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HISTORY & SIGNIFICANCE
Grass trees
(also known as blackboys) are indigenous to Australia.
They are slow growing but very long lived plants that
develop a thick trunk formed by a mass of
old leaf bases held together by natural resins. It takes
30 or more years for the
leaf tufts to rise above the trunk. Long spear like
flowers are produced
appearing brown in colour, these are densely packed with
small white flowers.
The flower spikes are produced sporadically, mainly
developing in the spring
months and in their natural habitat, after bushfires.
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PLANTING & CARE
When Grass
Trees are harvested from their natural environment the
dry, heavy soil surrounding their root system is also
dug up as this contains a bacteria which protects these
plants from pest and disease. When you purchase a Grass
Tree you will notice that the pot it is planted in is
extremely heavy. When planting your Grass Tree it is
extremely important to keep rootball intact, much of the
soil will fall away when you knock the tree out of its
pot. A good way to plant them is to cut the base from
the pot and the top, if it has a large rim and this will
ensure that the soil doesn’t fall away. |
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Grass trees must be
planted in extremely well drained soils; much of the
soil in Melbourne is quite clayey and poorly drained. To
provide a well drained environment for your Grass Tree
create a raised mound 2-3ft high x 2-3ft wide and plant
your Grass Tree high up in the mound. |
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ensure excellent drainage, an agricultural pipe can be
laid at the base of this mound, planting in organic soil
mixes and 3 way soil mixes should be avoided, please
refer to our Wet Feet
Kills Information Sheet for further instructions.
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| Grass
trees grow in reasonably alkaline soils. As much of
Melbourne’s soil is acidic it is important to apply ½
Kg/m2 of Cooper’s Dolomite lime each winter. |
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| Grass
trees thrive in full sun and should be fed sparingly,
twice a year, with
Devotion™ Time Release Fertiliser at half the
recommended rate. If grown in seaside areas water any
salt residue off your Grass Trees weekly. |
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