Propagation
Sow fresh seeds in flats at a depth of 14 mm (? in) and cover with a layer of sand to 7 mm (Ľ in) thick and maintain a temperature of 16ş to 18ş C. (61ş to 64ş F). Prick out and pot up when they are large enough to handle. Germination may take up to 12 months and the seedlings are very slow to grow.

Note:
This plant is not commonly cultivated outside its native region and may be difficult to obtain requiring a specialist nursery.


Botanic information
Leaf: The long grey-green linear leaves are up to 8mm (?in) wide and are undulating when young. They radiate out from the apex of the plant and arch to ground level.

Flower: The tiny white-yellow stellate (star-shaped) flowers are rich in nectar and are tightly packed in a terminal spike accompanied with floral bracts. They are arranged on a scape that is up to 2m (6ft) long and appear from the centre of the plant during late spring.

Fruit: The fruit is a leathery 3-valved loculicidal capsule that contains flat dull black seeds that have endosperm. The seeds are viable but the plant is commonly transplanted as a mature specimen.

General information on Grass Trees.
These very slow growing plants are only found in Australia and live for 600 years. It takes up to 10 years for the trunk to appear and is composed of masses of old leaf bases that are held together with natural resin. Then it takes a further 20 years for a crown of thin linear leaves to form distinctly above the trunk which has a growth rate of 20 mm (ľin) per year. Some species can attain a height of over 4 m (12ft) and are commonly branched. The flowering stem appears every 2 to 3 years on mature plants and grows rapidly up to 30 mm (1?in) per day and, the inflorescence attracts honey eating birds, bees, butterflies and ants.