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Scientific Name
Poa labillardierei
Family Name
POACEAE (GRAMINEAE)
Common Name
Silver Tussockgrass
Status
Height
80cm
Flowers
Very small flowers borne in spikes. Flowering stems up to 1.2m high.
Fruit
Grains
Form
Perennial grass with green to blue-green leaves rolled into a tube, forming dense tussocks. Can grow to only 20cm in subalpine areas and coastal sands.
Municipalities
Break O'Day; Brighton; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Clarence; Derwent Valley; Devonport; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Hobart; Huon Valley; Kentish; King Island; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Sorell; Southern Midlands; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar
Communities
Habitat Notes
Widespread and abundant, favours damp situations.
Site Tolerance
Frost Tolerance
Soil Tolerance
General Notes
Propagates easily from seed, or by division of large plants throughout the year. Very hardy, and tolerant of drought, but enjoys ample water. Cut back or burn in autumn or every couple of years to promote new growth. Attracts seed-eating birds and provides cover for small lizards. Self-seeds vigorously in the garden. An important habitat and foodplant for the vulnerable and endemic Ptunarra Brown Butterfly (Oreixenica ptunarra) in the southern Midlands. The female butterflies drop their eggs as they fly over the tussocks; after these hatch, the small caterpillars over-winter and begin feeding on the tips of the tussock in spring. 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
Small, in tall, finely branched seedheads. As seed matures, seedheads harden and change from green to light brown or beige. Seed is released within 3-14 days of seed maturity. When the seed is ripe, it will fall when the seedheads are rubbed between your fingers. Cut stalks with secateurs to collect.
Seed Treatment Method
Seed Storage Life
Viable Seeds Per Gram
Seed Treatment Notes
Germination Time
1 week
Suitable for Direct Seeding
Yes
Cuttings
Expected Time to Take Root
Expected Time to Plant Out
autumn/winter
Propagation by Division
N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.
Yes
Cutting Notes
Copyright 2000-2009, Understorey Network Incorporated. Updated 2024-10-14
Database development and website design by
Andrew Smith