Native Grasses are Important to many Wildlife Species!

Native Grasses are Crucial to many Wildlife Species!

Many Australian native grasses are rare and endangered, and grasses are very important for many small animal and other species. They may be grown in your garden amongst the flowers or clumped in an open space for a natural effect and to add a vertical dimension.

If you decide to add them to a flower garden, choose the type carefully, for some are invasive and others may cast unwanted shade over your flowers. Most will grow well in a pot.

They also grow on poor, low fertility soils, and need very little watering. They have adapted over thousands of years to these circumstances.

Native grasses differ from lawn grass in that frequent mowing weakens and may eventually kill them. They can be small, clumping ground covers or tall spike species, such a Spear grass or Plume grass. Weeping grass and Wallaby grass make a pretty good lawn too, that doesnt need to be mowed, and Hume Wallaby grass or Shannon Weeping grass are used as ground covers.

Tall grasses can be stunning used as a single specimen in the middle of the lawn, or in a landscape with trees and rocks. Most grasses have few diseases or pests to worry about and nothing could be easier to care for, so if you are pushed for time or not into major gardening, native grasses may be the ideal solution.

Wheat grass and Weeping grass are sometimes planted in areas which may be subject to erosion.

The beauty of many native grasses is not only in their leaves but the seed. Often seed is born in tall spires above the clump and not only hangs on for months, but offers food to birds and insects. Many seed heads last for ages and provide food, resting, and nesting areas.

Many woodland or open forest grasses thrive in heavy shade in spite of the root competition of overhanging trees, because this is similar to their natural habitat, so if you have a spot that is difficult to grow flowers in, think in terms of grasses instead.

Try to plant as many plants as possible from your own local area. Many native grasses have seedheads which attract small local birds like finches. And don't forget the wetland grasslike plants such as Lamandra and Dianella, for planting in cool shady areas, and the rushes such as Ficinea and Lepironia for damp areas.

One of the best field guides to native grasses we have seen is "Native Grasses for Australian Gardens" by Nola Parry and Jocelyn Jones, Published by Reed New Holland. It's not expensive, and has many photos of suitable backyard grasses.

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