Xanthorrhoea resinosa [Xanthorrhoeaceae] Also known as Xanthorrhoea resinifera, this is of the more common species of grass tree in the Sydney area, this Xanthorrhoea is usually seen in coastal heathland on shallow sand-derived soils. However it is rarely seen in gardens –– those that are used are generally imported from elsewhere. This is because it shares in common with all grass trees an incredibly slow growth rate, rendering the commercial propagation of plants at a reasonable pot size impossible. Try Randwick Council Nursery or Indigo Native Nursery if you are happy to take a tiny propagule under your wing and foster it for the next five decades. Unfortunately, most grass trees sold in cultivation are extracted from wild populations, whether the bush or farmland. I wonder whether their use in landscaping is morally questionable. Yes, one can purchase specimens that are certified by the NSW government to be rescued from land slated for clearing (such as for housing). However, I wonder whether in doing so we are somehow endorsing developments that impact wild plant communities?
