Native Grasses & Groundcovers

Creek mat-rush — Lomandra hystrix

Lomandra hystrix

Host plant for butterflies and insects Shelter for wildlife Resilient garden plant

$6.00

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Plant profile

At a glance

The essentials for finding the right garden position.

Mature size: Height: 0.8–1.5 m · Width: 0.8–1.5 m
Light: Full sun, Part shade, Shade
Water: Moist, Seasonally wet, Wet
Soil: Sandy, Loamy, Clay
Drainage: Free-draining, Poorly drained
Vegetation type: Wetlands / Swamps / Creek Margins, Wet Eucalypt, Rainforest
Plant lifespan: Long-lived perennial
Plant form: Grasses & Groundcovers

Plant ratings

A quick guide to this plant’s value for wildlife and the garden.

Bird food value
Host plant value
Pollinator value
Shelter & habitat value
Flower display
Garden resilience

About this plant

Creek mat-rush forms a broad, arching clump of glossy strap-like leaves, creating strong structure close to the ground. Fragrant cream-yellow flower clusters sit among the foliage and are followed by seed capsules. Its generous form works beautifully beside paths, around rain gardens and in layered plantings where a substantial, long-lived clump is wanted.

Image credits:
Mature image: Ethel Aardvark via Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 3.0
Feature image: Brendan McIntyre via iNaturalist photo 429628297 — CC BY 4.0

More plant details

Garden uses: Wetland edge, creek-line planting, rain garden and persistent ground-layer shelter; especially suited to sites reflecting Wetlands / Swamps / Creek Margins, Wet Eucalypt, Rainforest.
Wildlife value: Lomandra hystrix has some pollinator value, but its flowers are less abundant, less accessible or not a major garden food resource. Lomandra hystrix provides supplementary food and foraging opportunities for birds. Lomandra hystrix develops substantial, persistent structure that can provide excellent refuge, nesting or screening habitat.
Flowering and fruiting: Fragrant cream-yellow flower clusters are held among broad arching leaves, followed by seed capsules.
Growth habit: Robust, tufted perennial herb with arching strap-like leaves; typically 0.8–1.5 m high and wide.
Cautions: Forms a large clump and is best given dependable moisture and adequate width.