This perennial warm weather grass has tillers with upright foliage and forms a clump. It has green to blue-green sometimes twisted linear leaves and the tiny reddish-brown flowers appear in a panicle above the foliage during summer. 

Hardiness zones 9 to 11

Cymbopogon refractus is naturally found in Australia growing on the east coast in scrubland. 

It prefers a well drained, moderately fertile sandy soil in an open sunny to semi-shade position and is wind and frost tender but drought tolerant.

The Barbed Wire Grass is grown for its dense habit and its unusual flower heads. It is planted along borders in parks or large gardens or used in the understorey in a woodland setting. It is also mass planted on embankments or used in containers. It is planted in low maintenance commercial sites and is fast growing, establishing in one season. The foliage and seed heads have an aromatic odour when crushed. ID 716

Cymbopogon (sim-buh-POH-gon) refractus (ray-FRAK-tus)

Poaceae (poh_AY-see-ee)
Grass Family