Real World Gardener Pillar of Smoke in Plant of the Week

<p>Plant of the week</p> <p>Common Name: Stout Bamboo Grass; Pillar of Smoke (known in the US)</p> <p>Scientific Name: Austrostipa ramosissima</p> <p>Family:Poaceae</p> <p>Leaves: an attractive tall tufted perennial grass with a short rhizome but differs because of its culms (stems) with whorled branches. The stems are bamboo-like.</p> <p>Flowers: -spring to summer with creamy-white, spreading panicle that is 8 to 50 cm long with striking long, bent awns on the seeds. Feathery feel to the flowers.</p> <p>Height: 1-2.5m tall forming a sizeable clump over time.</p> <p>Distribution: from south eastern Queensland to far south eastern New South Wales, with isolated spots in north eastern Queensland and central New South Wales</p> <p>Interesting fact: used in landcare revegetation projects to attract seed eating birds and control erosion. Is an important habitat for butterflies and small birds, and a plentiful food source for wombats.</p> <p>Hardiness: drought and frost resistant.</p> <p>Growing from seed: Fresh seed will germinate in a couple of weeks if using smoke treatment such as wildflower seed starter. Can also be propagated by division.</p> <p>Uses: bird and insect attracting garden, native garden; bushland garden; hedging for a few years, but will need replacing by pulling out the parent plants and letting new seedlings that have self-sown,</p> <p>Maintenance: Mature plants can be cut back hard to just aboveground level in late winter to reinvigorate and encourage new growth. It is a relatively low maintenance species but some selective weeding may be necessary as there is potential for seedlings to spread throughout the garden.</p> <p>I'm talking with Adrian O'Malley, native plant expert and horticulturist.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>