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(Themeda triandra)
Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra)
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Harry Rose
CC BY 2.0
Image By:
Harry Rose
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 2.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Harry Rose | License Type: CC BY 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ | Uploader: Macleay Grass Man | Publisher: Flickr
Estimated Native Range
Climate Requirements for Somerset, New Jersey
| This Plant | Your Site | Plant Suitability for Your Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Precipitation | 3" - 216" | 49" | Aquatic | Aquatic |
| • High Temp. | 40°F - 108°F | 87°F | Your summer temperatures are normal for this plant. | Excellent |
| • Low Temp. | -21°F - 76°F | 21°F | Your winter temperatures are normal for this plant | Excellent |
This plant may not grow well at your location - your precipitation is too high.
Summary
Themeda triandra, commonly known as Kangaroo Grass, is a deciduous perennial grass native to Australia, Africa, and parts of Asia. It forms dense tussocks up to 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in) tall and 0.5 meters (1 ft 8 in) wide. This grass is notable for its seasonal color change, with leaves that are grey-green in winter and turn a striking red-brown in summer. Flowering occurs in summer, with large red-brown spikelets on branched stems that are both visually striking and fragrant.
Kangaroo Grass is valued for its drought tolerance and adaptability to a range of soil types, including sandy and clay soils. It is often used in naturalistic plantings, erosion control, and as an ornamental feature in gardens due to its unique coloration and form. It thrives in full sun to part shade and requires minimal water once established, preferring soils with medium to fast drainage. While it is generally low-maintenance, it can self-seed and become weedy in some conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0
Kangaroo Grass is valued for its drought tolerance and adaptability to a range of soil types, including sandy and clay soils. It is often used in naturalistic plantings, erosion control, and as an ornamental feature in gardens due to its unique coloration and form. It thrives in full sun to part shade and requires minimal water once established, preferring soils with medium to fast drainage. While it is generally low-maintenance, it can self-seed and become weedy in some conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Grass
- Height: 0.8-1.5 feet
- Width: 1.3-1.6 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Low
- Drainage: Medium, Fast
Common Uses
Deer Resistant, Low Maintenance, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Native to grasslands, open forests, and savannas
Other Names
Common Names: Red Grass, Red-Oat, Red-Oat Grass, Rooigras
Scientific Names: Themeda triandra, Themeda triandra var. japonica, Themeda triandra subsp. japonica, Themeda japonica, Themeda australis, Themeda imberbis, Themeda triandra var. hispida, Anthistiria glauca, Themeda forskalii
GBIF Accepted Name: Themeda triandra Forssk.