Coolatai grass


Photo: Harry Rose, licensed under CC BY 2.0		Coolatai grass Hyparrhenia hirta* Grasses South Australia Region

	A coarse summer-growing tussock to 1.5 metres high, this grass has flat tough leaves to 5mm wide. The seed heads consist of several V-shaped pairs of spikes on reddish stems. Each seed is densely hairy with a fine curved awn. It degrades pastures and native grasslands in other States and is now established in SA.

HOW IT SPREADS • Mistaken planting when misidentified as a native grass such as kangaroo grass. • Seed carried on livestock, vehicles and in hay.





Additional suggested alternatives: elegant spear grass (Austrostipa elegantissima), soft spear grass (Austrostipa mollis), switch grass (Panicum cultivars such as 'Rubrum' and 'Heavy Metal'), lemon grass (Cymbopogon ambiguus), wallaby grass (Austrodanthonia fulva), kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra).

Alternative Plants


Photo: Nursery & Garden Industry South Australia		Common tussock grass Poa labillardieri Grasses

	Poa labillardieri is a perennial cool season grass bearing beautiful fine greenish/blue foliage with an upright to arching form. Depending on aspect and soil, Poa labillardieri grows from 30 to 80 cm tall. Delicate plume like flowerheads in spring to summer extend above the foliage up to 1.2 metres. Poa is ideal for softening hard surfaces and for colour contrasting with other plants. Poa grows in full sun put prefers up to 50% shade and is suited to mild coastal conditions. Inland it will handle dry and cold to –10ºC with heavy frost. Trim back foliage in April every year to approx 200 to 300mm above the ground to remove last season’s foliage. A popular cultivar, used extensively in public landscapes is 'Eskdale'.

Photo: Colourwise Nursery		Purple Fountain Grass Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum' Grasses

	This sterile hybrid is a showy and popular ornamental perennial grass. It grows rapidly in dense clumps of burgundy coloured foliage up to 1.5 m high with arching purple-pink flower plumes in summer. The blooms are foxtail-like, are displayed above the foliage and produced in warm weather. A very hardy grass species that can tolerate periods of drought and light frosts.

Photo: Nursery & Garden Industry South Australia		Spiny mat rush Lomandra longifolia 'Tanika' and other cultivars Grasses

	An evergreen, improved compact fine leaf form of Lomandra growing 50-60cm high and 65cm across. This low maintenance plant produces small yellow flowers from April to October. It makes an attractive fresh green accent plant in mixed groupings with shrubs or other grasses, as a feature plant in open landscapes or planted en masse in borders or verges. The rush attracts birds and butterflies. Requires well-drained soils.