Festuca novae zelandiae
(Hard Tussock)

Festuca novae zelandiae
(Hard Tussock)

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Prices:

  Each 20 or more
2.5L Pot $9.50 $9.00

Details:

Type: Grass
Growth Rate: Medium
Mature Height: 0.7 m
Mature Width: 0.5 m
Site Condition: Coastal, Exposed, Frost Tolerant, Heavy Soil, Loamy Soil, Sandy Soil
Sun: Full Sun
Drainage: Dry, Moist
Features: Drought tolerant. Suitable for bordering or edging. Attractive to insects. Flower colour: Blonde. Foliage colour: Blonde. Fruit colour: Blonde. Native. Suitable restoration species.

Festuca novae-zelandiae is a fine-leaved tawny tussock, upright in habit. A common component of low tussock grasslands on dry, windy and cold plains in Canterbury & Otago. It is deep rooted and dominant on steep, exposed slopes. In alpine areas at lower altitudes Festuca novae-zelandiae is associated with the narrow-leaved snow tussock (Chionochloa rigida). Stunning grass en masse. Needle thin erect leaves green to blonde. Tolerates poor soil and dry conditions.

The tawny leaves are 15-60cm long and have a width of 0.5-1mm. They are rough to touch and have sharply pointed tips. The margins are tightly in rolled giving the leaf a cylindrical appearance. The flowering stems are up to 70 cm tall with a 5-12 cm long open flowering panicle.

Habitat: Short tussock grasslands. Pre-1900s short tussock grassland covered considerable areas of the eastern South Island from sea level up to between 800 and 900 metres high.

Flowering: Spring [September - November]
Fruiting:    Summer [December - February]

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