Festuca novae zelandiae
(Hard Tussock)

Festuca novae zelandiae
(Hard Tussock)

Add to my List Share this page

Details:

Foliage Colour: Blonde
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, Windy
Sun: Full Sun
Drainage: Dry, Moist
Category: Grass
Features: Native. Suitable for bordering or edging. Attractive to insects. Flower colour: Blonde. Fruit colour: Blonde. 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]

Tags: PoorSoils

Prices

  Each 20 or more
2l Pot $8.50 $8.00

Related Plants

Chionochloa rubra (Red Tussock)
View Details
Chionochloa rubra (Red Tussock)

Chionochloa rubra, commonly known as Red Tussoc...

Poa cita (Wi, Silver Tussock)
View Details
Poa cita (Wi, Silver Tussock)

Poa cita, Wi, or Silver Tussock, is a densely t...

Apodasmia similis (Oioi, Jointed Wire Rush)
View Details
Apodasmia similis (Oioi, Jointed Wire Rush)

Apodasmia similis, commonly called oioi, is an ...

Carex buchananii (Buchanan)
View Details
Carex buchananii (Buchanan)

Carex buchananii is a 60 cm tall native hair se...