Austrostipa ramosissima

Austrostipa ramosissima is an attractive tufted perennial grass with a short rhizome easily recognised by its culms (stems) with whorled branches giving it a bamboo - like appearance and the common name Stout Bamboo Grass. Growing 1 to 2.5 m tall it produces attractive large fine textured inflorescences throughout the year. The open spreading panicle is 8 to 50 cm long with striking long, bent awns on the seeds. It flowers for long periods, often year round, adding to its attractiveness as a landscape plant.
Austrostipa ramosissima grows in moist, well-drained gullies, near forest or woodland margins. It occurs predominately from south eastern Queensland to far south eastern New South Wales, with isolated occurrences in north eastern Queensland and central New South Wales.
Propagation by division in late winter - early spring has high success rates. Seed can prove a little more difficult. Many Austrostipa species have an after-ripening dormancy, and seed may need to be stored for a particular time period, usually between 2–24 months prior to sowing. The amount of time varies among species. Smoke treatments have been found to improve germination in some species. Seed should be sown in autumn to plant out in late winter or early spring. Germination occurs in 3 to 10 weeks for non-dormant seed