Carolyn, Johnsonii usually last for quite awhile unless you pollinate them. If they are drooping, it may be an indication that they need water. Drooping may also be an indication that they were not well established (roots) in your garden, so next year will be a better indication. If you cut the flower stem (lower) and put them in a vase of water, the flowers will often last longer. In the ground, once the flower stem is gone, let it shrivel up. The flower stem will often contain fluids that can be fed back to the bulb. I tend to not remove the stem until it is completely shriveled and dried. That is simply my preference, and it is probably affected by my busy schedule. Ann

Not familiar with this species, but the same place from which I ordered a bunch of seeds last winter (mostly Calothamnus), has it: "XANTHORRHOEA australis....................................."Grass Tree" $19.50 per 25gcolor>" ...hit the link below. Here is a link that might be useful: Nindethana Seed Service (Albany, Western Australia)

pity the building industry can't plan to work around things like this hey? rip tear is all they seem to know. also think you might be well placed if you spoke to an expert on the matter, as i understand them they have a very long tap root and most large plants taken from the wild end up dead anyway. i was told by a native nursery person that to take them from the wild you need to take up to one meter out of the soil around each plant the reason these plants create their own micorzoria or whatever so they need to be replanted into their original soil to stand a chance. i'm sure you'll find a local expert somewhere. the sounds of progress. len

When you bought your xanthorrhoea was it from a certified licensed seller? From my experience, it takes about 6 months to a year for a 'grass tree' to die once it has been moved from one site to another, especially from a dealer/remover who hasn't much of an idea of their requirements. Monash, my advice, just plant it - don't bother with brown sugar, just water it in with a water/seeweed mix (Seasol, I use) and hope for the best. If you bought a seed grown plant, fine. If yours has a black trunk then it's probably a plant removed from the bush by a certified, licensed remover (details of authenticity should be on the pot), potted and (hopefuly) left to settle for a year or two. Then, if you didn't disturb the roots at planting time, it should be ok. Water it for awhile to settle in in a well drained spot diminishing the watering gradually over a period of about 6 weeks, then hope for the best. If it's still alive a year later then consider you've made it.