Item Tag: Loam, Sand, Clay, Peat

Xanthorrhoea preissii is an evergreen woody-like perennial monocot in the Asphodelaceae family. Its native range is southwest Australia. Familiar names include Blackboy, Western Australian Grass Tree, Balga, and Australian Grass Tree.  It grows along the coast, inland, forests, and sandy plains in its habitat. It is tolerant of fire and is marked with a black trunk after the fires. A slow-grower is also a long-living species reaching 600 years old. It will take 7-10 years to bloom but is worth the wait. It sends up a 7-10 foot scape with creamy-white tiny star-shaped flowers covering half the scape. The foliage is so unique to the touch, feeling like smooth-round grass. It can be grown in a large container. Remove lower leaves throughout the years to reveal the trunk. It can grow to 9 feet tall and 8 feet wide once it matures in its natural habitat. It prefers to grow under the full sun but can tolerate light shade with well-drained soil. Birds, bees, and butterflies are attracted to it. Zones 9-11 Germination Sow seeds on top of the soil and lightly cover. Keep moist in a bright spot. Cover with plastic and keep temperatures around 65-75F. Germination is in 7-60 days.