Native Wheatgrass

Botanical name: Anthosachne solandri
Common name(s): Native Wheatgrass, Blue Wheatgrass

Plant facts:
A distinctive endemic New Zealand grass recognised for its blue-grey foliage, arching habit, and long recurved awns. This hardy tufted species naturally inhabits dry rocky landscapes from the coast to alpine regions and is highly valued for ecological restoration, erosion control, and naturalistic native grass plantings.

Natural habitat:
Occurs naturally on rocky coastal slopes, talus, screes, moraines, cliff faces, riverbeds, and open tussock grasslands from sea level to alpine environments.

Growing environment:
Full sun, Dry soil, Wind tolerant & Free draining tolerant.
Prefers open exposed situations with excellent drainage and low humidity.

Endemic distribution:
Endemic to New Zealand.
Found throughout the North and South Islands, though uncommon north of the Waikato region.

Height:
Approximately 40 cm–1 m tall

Width:
Forms loose open tussocks approximately 40–80 cm across

Flowering:
Spring to summer
Produces upright narrow flowering spikes from September to February.

Fruiting:
Summer to autumn
Long-awned seed heads mature from October to May.

Uses:

• Dryland restoration planting
• Native grassland restoration
• Rock walls and embankments
• Coastal and alpine gardens
• Erosion control plantings
• Naturalistic meadow plantings

Appearance:

Growth habit:
A loosely tufted perennial grass with spreading to arching culms that may stand upright or droop gracefully with age.

Leaves:
Leaves are flat to slightly folded, blue-grey to green, often strongly glaucous, with a soft floppy appearance and distinctive clasping auricles.

Flower spikes:
Flower spikes are narrow and closely pressed to the stem, carrying long recurved awns that give the plant a delicate windswept appearance.

Seed heads:
Mature seed heads become pale straw-coloured with prominent curved awns aiding wind dispersal.

Ecology:
A characteristic species of dry open habitats where it occupies rocky and sparsely vegetated environments. It tolerates drought, wind, and nutrient-poor soils, and often persists in challenging exposed conditions where few other grasses survive.

How to grow:
Best planted in full sun in very free-draining soil. Thrives in dry rocky sites, gravel gardens, retaining walls, and open meadow plantings. Avoid humid or poorly drained situations, particularly in northern climates.

Propagation:
Very easy from fresh seed or by division of established clumps. Often self-sows lightly in suitable dry open conditions.

Garden value:
An excellent ornamental native grass with attractive glaucous foliage and elegant seed heads. Particularly effective cascading over rock walls or planted amongst dryland natives and alpine species.

Conservation notes:
Although widespread, local populations can be vulnerable to habitat modification, invasive weeds, and loss of open dryland habitats. Some regional forms are considered threatened or uncommon.