Blue Tussock

Poa astonii

Overview

A fine-textured, compact native tussock grass forming graceful, rounded mounds of silvery-green foliage. Poa astonii adds soft movement and subtle colour to garden plantings and is excellent for low-maintenance landscaping, coastal sites, and native revegetation projects.

Key Features

Foliage: Narrow, wiry, blue-green to silvery leaves forming tight, dense tufts that shimmer in the breeze.
Flowers / Fruit: Delicate panicles of pale fawn flower stems in summer rise slightly above the foliage, adding airy texture and visual lightness.
Form & Habit: Rounded, tidy clumps with fine arching leaves.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Cultural & Ecological Value: Provides shelter and seed for small birds and insects; excellent soil stabiliser and tolerant of salt and wind.

Mature Size

Ideal Growing Conditions

Landscaping & Garden Uses

• Ideal for mass planting, erosion control, and native restoration

• Adds soft texture to rock gardens and mixed borders

• Excellent for coastal, alpine, and low-care landscapes

• Works well as a groundcover or natural edging plant

Care & Maintenance

Pruning: Trim lightly every 2–3 years to remove old foliage and maintain shape.
Watering: Minimal; only during prolonged dry periods after establishment.
Feeding: Rarely needed; apply a low-phosphorus native fertiliser in spring if growth slows.
Pests & Diseases: Generally pest- and disease-free.

Fun Fact / Botanical Insight

Named after New Zealand botanist Bernard Aston, Poa astonii is naturally found in dry eastern regions of the South Island and has become a popular landscape grass for its resilience and soft form.

Why Choose Poa astonii?

A graceful, hardy native grass that thrives in tough conditions—perfect for adding natural texture, movement, and structure to modern or native gardens.

Pot Size:

These are our standard size in 7cm square pots.