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Astelia alpina
Pineapple Grass

Not a grass and no particular relation to pineapples, this little lily family plant inhabits alpine bogs in Tasmania and southern Australia, growing to about 6". Its unique quality is its pewter-colored leaves that are tough and leathery and form large mats. In summer, it sports racemes of small white or greenish flowers, followed by half-inch, red, edible berries. Hardiness is a bit of an unknown quantity, as it isn't cultivated much. It takes 20F in its native habitat, and our supplier believes it hardy in zone 8.