Bristly wallaby grass

Plant growth form and habit: An erect, tussock-forming perennial grass.

Natural distribution: Vic, NSW, Tas, SA, WA. Widespread across southern Australia in grasslands and open woodlands.

Indigenous to greater Melbourne: Yes

Height category: 0-0.5m

Dimensions (height and width): 0.3-0.6 m x 0.3-0.4 m

Landscape features: Vertical form/foliage

Flowering: Green to purple spikelets, October to January.

Typical growth rate: Medium

Light: Full sun, Partial sun

Drought: Very good

Waterlogging: Moderately good

Maintenance and cultivation notes: Easily raised from seed, and colonises readily. Tolerates mowing in turf, but not very trafficable. Best on infertile soils with a low weed seed bank.

Green roof suitability: Irrigated 10-20 cm depth, Irrigated > 20 cm depth

Butterfly larval host plants: Larval food plant for white-banded grass dart (Taractrocera papyria) and shouldered brown (Heteronympha penelope).

Birds: Provides food for seed-eating birds including red-browed finch. Also attracts larvae-eating birds.

Lizards and frogs: Habitat refuge for small lizards.

Benefits: Butterfly (caterpillar) host, Birds (food source), Lizard habitat

Availability: Victorian Indigenous Nurseries Co-operative (VINC), Bili Nursery, Western Plains Flora, Goldfields Revegetation Native Nursery, Kuranga Native Nursery (availability as of June 2017)

Typical horticultural uses: Groundcover (needs to be planted in high density to achieve groundcover). Suitable for green roofs.