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.


Botanic information
Leaf: The new linear leaves are upright at first becoming pendant with age and are very narrow. In cross section they are quadrangular in shape and the dead leaves form a skirt around the trunk. The leaf colour may be silvery grey and the texture is rigid.

Flower: The tiny white stellate flowers are arranged in a spike with floral bracts up to 200mm (8in) long on a short scape that is up to 150mm (6in) tall. The inflorescence has a brownish, stout appearance and is up to 60mm (2Ľin)thick and appears during spring.

Fruit: The fruit is a leathery 3-valved loculicidal capsule 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 to 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 two to three 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.