This slow growing perennial forms a blackish trunk over a long period (100 years) and produces a tufted crown with long linear grey-green leaves. The tiny white star-shaped flowers appear in a spike on a long stem, up to 4m (12ft) tall in early summer.

Hardiness zones 9 to 10

Xanthorrhoea arborea is naturally found in Australia growing along the central east coast and the ajoining the mountains of New South Wales on cool sheltered slopes.

It prefers a well drained moderately fertile sandy-stony soil in a protected semi shaded to sunny position and is drought tolerant but frost tender.

The Broadleaf Grass Tree is grown for its attractive foliage. It is planted in small or large gardens or used in bushland settings as a specimen. It is suitable for coastal or low-mountain regions but is slow to establish and rarely cultivated in domestic gardens. The plant is also grown in tubs or in a courtyard planter boxes and it re-shoots after fire. ID 588

Xanthorrhoea (zan-thor-RHO-ee-ah) arborea(ar-BOR-ee-ah)

Xanthorrhoeaceae(zan-thor-RHO-AY-see-ee)