Iconic Australian endemic with a thick blackened fire-shaped trunk topped by a fountain of long grass-like leaves and, in mature specimens, a tall flower spike of cream flowers in early summer.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 9–10 | −6.7 °C to 4.4 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H3 | −5 °C to 1 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 9 | −1 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 3–6 | −5 °C to 15 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Native to southeastern Australia — found across Victoria, Tasmania, NSW, and southeastern Queensland
- Extraordinarily slow growing — trunk growth is approximately 1 cm per year, so a 2 m specimen is around 200 years old; never harvest wild plants, only buy nursery-propagated stock with provenance
- Fire-adapted — the blackened trunk results from periodic fires, which often trigger flowering
- Cultural significance to Aboriginal peoples — the resin was historically used as adhesive, the flower spike for fishing spears
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Grass tree (Yacca) against your zones