A hardy, perennial tussock-forming plant native to south-eastern Australia, Lomandra longifolia features long, strap-like leaves and produces small, fragrant yellow-green flowers on short stalks, typically from spring to summer. It grows in a wide range of soils, from sandy to clay, and thrives in full sun to partial shade.
 
The Spiny-headed Mat-rush is valued in native gardens and revegetation projects for its drought tolerance, soil-stabilising roots, and ability to provide habitat and food for native fauna.