| Botanic name | Lomandra confertifolia |
| Other names | Mat rush, echidna grass |
| Main Origin | Eastern Australia |
| Mature size | 0.3 – 0.6 m x 0.3 – 0.6 m (w x h) |
| Mature form | Dense, grass-like, rhizomatous clumps |
| Foliage | Linear, narrow, fine, strap-like, bright to mid-green, blue, or grey |
| Growth rate | Slow to fast |
| Position | Full sun, part shade |
| Soil | Adapts to most soils |
| Water | Occasional deep watering during extended dry periods |
| Climate | Semi-arid, Mediterranean, temperate, subtropical |
| Flower | Small, creamy to yellow, scented, from spring to summer |
| Use | Mass planting, borders, pots, slopes, enbankments |
| Notes | Suitable for coastal sites |
IN THIS ARTICLE
Overview
Lomandra confertifolia, commonly known as Mat Rush, is a graceful clumping native grass that lends a refined presence to Australian gardens. It is often chosen for smaller urban gardens and courtyards, as its naturally contained growth and upright or weeping form create a strong contemporary appeal.
With its fine, delicate foliage, Lomandra confertifolia forms neat, rounded mounds that bring softness and cohesion to any planting scheme.
Unlike the broader-leafed Lomandra longifolia and Lomandra hystrix, Lomandra confertifolia offers a more compact, delicate form. It is a foundational species for several successful, eye-catching ultracompact cultivars.
Origin and distribution
Lomandra confertifolia is native exclusively to eastern Australia. Unlike the widespread Longifolia longifolia, this species is typically found in more specific habitats, including heathlands, open forests and dry woodlands
The more restricted natural range suggests a different hardiness profile in cultivation. It adapts to dry, well-drained conditions but avoids waterlogged areas that Lomandra hystrix inhabits and Lomandra longifolia tolerates.
While it is less widespread than the exceptionally tough Lomandra longifolia, Lomandra confertifolia is highly popular in dry Mediterranean, temperate, and subtropical regions, due to its aesthetic qualities and low-maintenance nature.
Growth and care
As a native Australian plant, Lomandra confertofolia is found in a range of climates. It possesses excellent tolerance to high summer heat, thriving in semi-arid, temperate and subtropical zones, while it is also widely cultivated in regions with a dry Mediterranean climate.
Once established, the species is highly drought-tolerant and can handle moderate frosts without significant damage. Some specific cultivars are noted for greater cold hardiness and can tolerate temperatures to -9°C.
While highly adaptable to various soils, it prefers well-drained types and does not tolerate boggy or waterlogged conditions, unlike other wet-tolerant Lomandra species.
Lomandra confertofolia can handle light to moderate salt spray, particularly when positioned slightly inland or behind protective plants. However, it is not ideal for exposed coastal sites, where Lomandra longifolia is superior. Specific cultivars like ‘Little Con’, ‘Seascape’, ‘Mist’, and ‘Wingarra’ are more tolerant of coastal conditions.
This species thrives best in full sun to partial shade. It also performs well in dappled shade, as it can also be found in the understory of tall trees in its habitat of hotter regions. Some cultivars like ‘Pacific Sky’ can handle drier, shadier spots.
However, it is important to note that while Lomanndra confertifolia and some of its cultivars can tolerate some shade, they will not perform in heavy or deep shade (70% – 80%). Instead, opt for shade-tolerant Lomandra longifolia, Lomandra hystrix, or their specialised cultivars.
The plant generally requires very little, if any, supplemental fertilisation. As a native species adapted to the nutrient-poor soils of eastern Australia, it performs best when left alone. Over-fertilisation should be avoided, as it can lead to weak, excessive growth and reduce the plant’s natural hardiness and drought tolerance.
If the clump becomes aged, tired, or develops dead foliage in the centre after many years, the entire plant can be cut back hard to approximately 15 cm above the ground in late winter or early spring. Such hard pruning will encourage plant rejuvenation, developing fresh, vibrant foliage.
Features
Overall form and habit
- Form: A dense, rhizomatous tussock or clumping perennial.
- Habit: Neat, compact, rounded mounds.
- Size: Naturally dwarf, typically remaining small (30 to 60 cm in height and width), which is its key difference from other Lomandra species.
Foliage
- Texture: Known for its fine, soft, delicate foliage, giving it an elegant appearance distinct from the broad, tough leaves of Lomandra longifolia.
- Colour: Usually features bright to mid-green, blue or grey tones, depending on subspecies and cultivars.
- Arrangement: Leaves are strap-like, long, and numerous, contributing to its dense, bushy look.
Flowers
It produces small, inconspicuous, creamy to yellow flowers nestled within the foliage at the base of the plant in spring. The flowers are typically not its main ornamental feature.
Seed capsules follow the blooms, but like all Lomandra, the seed heads are generally not aesthetically significant and can be spiky. Most popular cultivars are either sterile or male to eliminate this issue.
Landscape applications
With its compact, tidy habit, Lomandra confertifolia offers remarkable versatility in garden design. Distinct cultivars are often used in various planting schemes to create striking visual rhythm and harmony in contemporary landscapes.
- Mass planting: Its uniform habit is excellent for mass plantings along garden paths and in garden beds.
- Border and edging: Smaller cultivars are well-suited for edging paths or as a low border.
- Containers: The cascading foliage of certain types looks great in pots and containers on patios and balconies.
- Erosion control: Its dense root system stabilises soil on slopes and embankments, transforming erosion-prone areas into stunning, yet low-maintenance landscapes.
Cultivars
Over recent decades, many Lomandra confertifolia cultivars have been selected or bred from naturally occurring forms to enhance plant form, foliage colour, compactness, and hardiness.
These refined cultivars, ranging from tight, upright tufts to soft, weeping mounds, extend the versatility of the species far beyond its original appearance.
| Cultivar | Size (w x h) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Little Con | 0.3 m x 0.3 m | Smallest & neatest with fine, bright green foliage |
| Keira | 0.4 m x 0.4 m | Compact, ball-shaped mound, bright green foliage |
| Golden Spray | 0.4 m x 0.4 m | Weeping, golden-lime foliage |
| Mist | 0.5 m x 0.5 m | Weeping, blue-grey foliage |
| Silver Grace | 0.5 m x 0.5 m | Weeping, silvery, blue-grey foliage |
| Wingarra | 0.6 m x 0.4 m | Arching, distinctive blue-grey foliage |
| Little Pal | 0.6 m x 0.6 m | Semi-straight, bright green foliage |
| Pom Pom | 0.6 m x 0.6 m | Rounded mound with soft, bright or lime green foliage |
| Misty Green | 0.6 m x 0.6 m | Graceful, weeping, mid-green foliage |
| Little Lime | 0.7 m x 0.5 m | Derived from Lime Tuff, rounded, finer & lime-green foliage |
| Lime Divine | 0.7 m x 0.5 m | Graceful, weeping, lime-green foliage |
| Lime Tuff | 0.7 m x 0.6 m | Hybrid with Lomandra longifolia, rounded & lime-green foliage |
| Seascape | 0.7 m x 0.7 m | Graceful, weeping, blue-grey foliage |
| Frosty Top(s) | 0.7 m x 0.7 m | Weeping, blue-green foliage, with a silvery grey highlight |
| White Sands | 0.7 m x 0.7 m | Hybrid with Lomandra longifolia with variegated foliage |
| Crackerjacks | 1 m x 1 m | Upright or arching, deep green foliage with blue new growth |
| Pacific Sky | 1.2 m x 0.7 m | Ground-hugging, arching, blue-green foliage |
