Spiny-headed mat rush

Lomandra longifolia

Tough strappy-leaved Australian native that looks like a tussock grass but is actually in the asparagus family. Virtually indestructible and now a landscaping mainstay.

Hardiness ratings

Spiny-headed mat rush hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 8–11 −12.2 °C to 10 °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 3–7 −5 °C and warmer Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Larval host plant for several native skipper butterflies and other native moths
  • Virtually indestructible — drought tolerant, fire-retardant and largely pest free
  • Now widely used in Australian commercial landscaping and revegetation projects
  • Compact cultivars (‘Tanika’, ‘Lime Tuff’) are popular but the wild form supports more wildlife

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Spiny-headed mat rush against your zones

Reference

Spiny-headed mat rush on Wikipedia