Common Name: Fairy Grass

General Information

Sporobolus caroli is a clump-forming, annual to short-lived perennial grass with erect, slender culms 30 - 75cm tall.
The seed is sometimes gathered from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, Northern Territories.

Habitat

Floodplains in clay soils[]. Grows on floodplains of inland rivers and creeks; also roadsides, wasteland and other disturbed sites[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	0.40 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of warm temperate to tropical areas of Australia.
Species in this genus generally succeed in any well drained soil in a sunny position[]. This species is often found in seasonally inundated soils.

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked. It can be ground into a flour[]. The seed is small but it falls easily from the husk[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer if they have grown sufficiently. Otherwise, grow them on in a greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring of the following year.
Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.