Description
Dianella Tasmanica ‘Variegata’
(Flax Lily)
Dianella Tasmanica ‘Variegata’ has a beautiful strap-leafed perennial with clumps to 18 to 24 inches tall bearing fans of rich green leaves with bold white long stripes and a finely serrated leaf margin.
It has small flowers, which appear in mid spring, have pale violet sepals with white striped green petals and are followed by attractive dark blue berries.
Best in light shade but will take full coastal sun and can take exposed windy locations in clay or sandy soils that are fairly well drained.
Give regular to occasional water – the species is often listed as drought tolerant but cannot withstand prolonged dry southern California summers without some irrigation. It is hardy to about 20° F.
Dianella Tasmanica ‘Variegata’ plant is sometimes thought of as invasive but this is typically in a well irrigated garden but it is extremely useful in dry shade where it imparts a somewhat tropical look. Its foliage, flowers and berries can all be used in flower arrangements.
The genus is named after Diana, the Roman goddess, of hunting and Queen of the woods and the specific epithet is a reference to this species being from the island of Tasnmania, but it is also found on the mainland in southeastern Australia.
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