These are tufted, evergreen, rhizomatous perennials from SE Australia where they grow in heath or woodland. Their attraction is their loose panicles on tall stalks of (normally) blue flowers. They are ideal in a woodland garden or in a warm sheltered border. We have not found them troubled by frost in the nursery but, bearing in mind their origins, those in colder parts of the country may well choose to grow them in pots in the greenhouse. They seem quite happy in sun or partial shade in any well drained rich, and perhaps improved, soil. The clumps are easily divided up to make new plants in the spring.
We now offer three different forms of Dianella:
D. caerulea ‘Cassa Blue’ has stiff blue glaucous leaves of up to 15-20in in length and small blue-purple flowers. These are often followed in the nursery by equally attractive, spherical, shiny blue berries on the flowering stalk.
D. revoluta ‘Coolvista’ has narrow upright blue-grey leaves and blue flowers followed, usually, by blue berries.
D. tasmanica ‘Tas Red’ has shiny green leaves which are tinged red in winter. Deep red flower stems carry blue star shaped flowers in branching panicles followed by dark blue berries. This variety can eventually grow up to 3ft in maturity outside.
