Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree

$11,500.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 500L (single head)

500L (single head) 500L (double head)

Current Stock Height Guides

500L: Enquire within for height guide information.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 1m to 6m (approx.) (variable depending on species, very slow-growing; this refers to trunk height)

Mature Width: 1m to 3m (leaf crown spread)

Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree is expected to grow 1cm to 3cm per year (very slow) (approx.).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

Trade

We supply advanced trees to landscapers, developers, architects, and councils Australia-wide. Trade clients receive fast quotes, expert advice, and access to premium stock with reliable freight.

Register or learn more ›

Shipping

Shipping is calculated at checkout based on the pallet space your order occupies in the truck and your delivery location.

There is no charge to calculate your freight.

Contact

Have a question or a list to send through to us?

Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree

Xanthorrhoea species, sold here as Grass Tree or Black Boy Tree, are slow growing Australian natives that form a blackened woody trunk topped with a dense skirt of fine, linear foliage. Mature plants send up a tall cream flower spike that stands well above the crown, packed with nectar.

They reach 1 to 6 metres tall depending on species and age, with a leaf crown 1 to 3 metres across, and grow only about 1 to 3 centimetres a year. Full sun, sharp drainage and lean soil suit them. They handle drought, poor ground, frost and fire, and are at home from Perth to Sydney and well inland.

Grass trees are used as sculptural focal points in native, coastal and dry gardens, in rockeries, courtyards and civic entry statements. They pair well with low native shrubs, succulents and gravel mulch. Because they grow so slowly, an established specimen carries an age and character that cannot be produced any other way.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Grass Tree

What is a Grass Tree?

Xanthorrhoea is a genus of slow growing Australian natives with a thick, fire blackened trunk and a crown of stiff, grass like leaves. They are also known as Black Boy Trees, an older name still in circulation. The trunk is not true timber but a compacted mass of old leaf bases bound together with resin.

How fast do Grass Trees grow?

Very slowly, about 1 to 3 centimetres of trunk a year. A plant with a metre of visible trunk has usually been growing for several decades, which is why advanced specimens are sold on trunk height rather than pot age. Nothing in cultivation speeds this up meaningfully, so buy the size you want to live with.

How big do Grass Trees get?

Between 1 and 6 metres tall depending on the species and how old the plant is, with a leaf crown spreading 1 to 3 metres. Most landscape specimens sit well under the upper figure. The flower spike adds further height in season, standing up to around 2 metres above the crown.

Is the Grass Tree drought tolerant?

Strongly drought tolerant once established. These plants evolved on nutrient poor, freely draining soils and are adapted to long dry periods, so summer watering is rarely needed after the first year. The common cause of death in gardens is the opposite problem, roots left sitting wet in heavy clay or in an over irrigated bed.

Does it need sun or shade?

Full sun. Grass trees need open, unshaded positions to keep the crown dense and the plant healthy, and they thin out and decline under trees or against shaded walls. Reflected heat and exposed sites are no trouble at all. Give them the hottest, driest, best drained corner available.

When does a Grass Tree flower?

Flowering is sporadic rather than annual, most often through late winter into spring and frequently triggered by fire, heat or a good season. The spike carries thousands of small cream flowers and draws honeyeaters, native bees and other insects. A plant may flower several years running, then skip several years entirely.

How do I care for a Grass Tree?

Plant it high in free draining soil or on a raised mound and do not disturb the roots. Water sparingly through the first summer, then leave it alone. Avoid fertiliser, particularly anything high in phosphorus. Old leaves can be trimmed back to tidy the skirt. Keep irrigation and lawn sprinklers away from the trunk.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

View full details

Type: Garden Supplies

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Type: Structural Foliage

Buxus japonica Japanese Box Topiary Balls

From $300.00

Type: Hedging and Screening Trees

Rhaphiolepis indica 'Oriental Pearl'

From $130.00

Type: Hedging and Screening Trees

Rhaphiolepis indica 'Snow Maiden'

From $130.00

Type: Hedging and Screening Trees

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Sheen'

From $145.00

Melaleuca Nesophilla - Evergreen Trees Direct

Type: Australian Native

Melaleuca nesophila

From $120.00

Liguleria Reniformis - Evergreen Trees Direct

Type: Structural Foliage

Ligularia reniformis

$45.00

Uses in my Garden

Council or Civic Landscapes
Plant in Pots (or) Suitable for Pots
Feature Tree

Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree works in an:

Australian Native Garden – celebrates local plants with natural character.
Contemporary / Architectural Garden – striking forms for bold design statements.
Coastal Garden – relaxed, seaside feel with hardy, textural plants.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree Evergreen or Deciduous?

Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 1m to 6m (approx.) (variable depending on species, very slow-growing; this refers to trunk height)

Mature Width: 1m to 3m (leaf crown spread)

Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree is expected to grow 1cm to 3cm per year (very slow) (approx.).

Growth Rate of Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree

Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree is expected to grow 1cm to 3cm per year (very slow) (approx.).

They are considered to have a:

Slow Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree

Is Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree frost tolerant?

Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree is Frost Hardy – Survives heavy and frequent frost without damage.

Does Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree Flower?

Xanthorrhoea produces dramatic, upright flowering spikes covered in thousands of small cream-white flowers rich in nectar. These blooms often follow fire, seasonal changes or periods of stress, creating a striking architectural feature that rises well above the foliage.

Does Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Sporadic

Flower Type:

Pollinator-attracting

Flower Colour:

White

Is Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree an Australian Native Tree?

Yes

Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree is Native to Australia – different species occur across much of the continent. They are commonly found in heathlands, open forests, and rocky slopes.

What is the Wildlife Value of Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree ?

Its tall flowering spikes produce abundant nectar that attracts native bees, beetles and beneficial insects, while also drawing in nectar-feeding birds such as honeyeaters. The dense skirt of older foliage at the base provides sheltered habitat for small reptiles and ground-dwelling wildlife, supporting a diverse and resilient ecosystem.

How much Sunlight does Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree need?

Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree will thrive best in:

Full Sun
Part Shade

Preferred Soil?

Xanthorrhoea performs best in very well-drained sandy or loamy soils with an acidic to neutral pH. It will not tolerate heavy, compacted or waterlogged soils, and these must be avoided or significantly improved with coarse materials to enhance drainage. Keep the soil lightly moist during establishment, then gradually reduce watering as it develops its natural drought resilience. Avoid disturbing the root system at all stages.

Is Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree Drought Tolerant?

Is Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree Drought tolerant?

As a young plant it benefits from careful, regular watering while ensuring the crown stays dry. Once established, Xanthorrhoea shows excellent drought tolerance, thriving in hot, dry environments and maintaining its form with little to no supplementary watering.

youtube

How To Plant Your Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree

Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree is expected to grow 1cm to 3cm per year (very slow) (approx.).

Slow Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, this is drought tolerant and only needs a deep soak during extended dry periods.

Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Light tip prune in late winter to maintain shape, and remove lower branches as the tree grows to develop a clean feature trunk.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release native blend in early spring and again in autumn. Avoid high-phosphorus formulations as a precaution.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Xanthorrhoea - Black Boy Tree in Different Soil

Xanthorrhoea performs best in well-drained sandy loam or loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is improved with organic matter.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch well to maintain consistent moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost before planting.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

pH: Slightly acidic to neutral preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter to maintain levels naturally.