Overview

Dianella tasmanica is a bushy herbaceous perennial in the genus Dianella, part of the Asphodelaceae family, with evergreen foliage. It typically grows around 1-1.5 metres tall and 0.1-0.5 metres wide, reaching full size in around 2-5 years. Dianella tasmanica grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates loam and sand soils and acid and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H3. Suggested uses include city and courtyard gardens, cottage and informal garden, coastal, patio and container plants and flower borders and beds.

About

Dianella tasmanica, commonly known as the Tasman flax-lily or Tasmanian flax-lily, is a herbaceous strappy perennial herb of the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae, found in southeastern Australia including Tasmania. Its leaves are up to 80 centimetres (30 inches) in length, and the flower stem is up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) tall. Blue flowers in spring and summer are followed by violet berries. It adapts readily to cultivation and is commonly seen in Australian gardens. In the wild it grows across New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria and ZA. It grows to around 1-1.5 metres tall and 0.1-0.5 metres wide, carrying evergreen foliage. Grow it in full sun and partial shade and loam and sand soil. It tolerates acid and neutral soils, well-drained conditions and south-facing, west-facing and east-facing aspects.

Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Dianella tasmanica

About the genus

Dianella is a genus of about forty species of flowering plants in the monocot family Asphodelaceae, commonly known as flax lilies. Plants in this genus are tufted herbs with more or less linear leaves and bisexual flowers with three sepals more or less similar to three petals and a superior ovary, the fruit a berry. They occur in Africa, South-east Asia, the Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Australia.

Wikipedia contributors, "Dianella (plant)", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Dianella (plant)

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Dianella

Sunlight

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil type

Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral

Soil moisture

Well-drained

Aspect

South-facing, West-facing, East-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H3

Plant details

Dianella tasmanica size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Herbaceous Perennial

Habit

Bushy

Foliage

Evergreen

Height

1-1.5 metres

Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Time to full height

2-5 years

Suggested uses

City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Coastal, Patio and container plants, Flower borders and beds

Toxicity

Unlike other Dianella species, its fruits are toxic.

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Dianella tasmanica

Propagation

Seed, Division of rhizomes

Pest resistance

Generally pest-free

Disease resistance

Generally disease-free

Frequently asked questions