Looking for the perfect new tree to add to your garden? Here are five reasons why a grass tree could be exactly what you need.
A Grass Tree Provides a Dramatic Focal Point
Let’s start with the grass tree’s visual appeal. With its thick black trunk and tufts of blue/green foliage, this will definitely be one of the most unusual-looking trees in your garden. If you’re looking for a tree that will provide a focal point, as well as a conversation starter, then a grass tree won’t disappoint.
Grass Trees are Loved by Wildlife
The wildlife around us has really been struggling lately. The loss of habitat is one thing, but the trend for planting non-native trees is also worrying. Native trees are what the local wildlife has evolved to depend on – for food, shelter, protection, and more. Non-natives offer this to an extent, but they don’t promote biodiversity in the same way that native trees do.
This makes a grass tree ideal for an Australian garden. Not only does it offer shelter, but its flowers are loved by nectar-loving insects and birds. Seed-eating birds, such as parrots, are also attracted to the seeds that the flowers produce.
If you’d like to expand your native tree selection even more, the Queensland Bottle Tree and the Australian Finger Lime Tree would also be worth considering.
Grass Trees are Easy to Look After
Let’s face it, time is precious. While gardening may be enjoyable, those with busy schedules don’t want to be adding a high-maintenance tree to their garden. This is just one of the reasons why grass trees are loved by landscapers – plant them in the right spot (and this is easy to find, since they aren’t fussy) and the trees will pretty much take care of themselves after that.
The Grass Tree is a Slow Grower
If you’re looking for a fast-growing tree, then a grass tree isn’t for you. However, if you’d like to invest in a large specimen that’s capable of making an instant impact, then you won’t have to worry about a mature grass tree vigorously taking over your garden.
With a growth rate of just 1-2cm a year, grass trees are very slow growers. Pick the right spot for your tree and it’ll be able to remain there without any pruning needed for several years, as its size won’t change much.
The Grass Tree Can Be Grown in a Pot
Don’t dismiss a grass tree just because you have a small garden – this is a tree that does very well in a pot too. As mentioned, it has a slow growth rate, meaning that you won’t need to keep potting it up. It’s also a drought-tolerant tree, making it capable of tolerating the drier soil that containers offer.
Which Grass Tree Variety Should You Pick?
You’ll find many grass tree growing disaster stories all over the internet – Xanthorrhoea really is infamous for its poor survival rate. However, this all depends on the variety that you choose.
Here at Designer Trees, we would recommend the Glauca Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea glauca). It’s the hardiest of all of the varieties, and also has the highest survival rate. In fact, we’re so confident that our Glauca grass trees will thrive in your garden that we offer a 12-month survival guarantee with every grass tree purchased. Feel free to get in touch if you’d like to order one for yourself!