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Cassa Blue - Stunning blue foliage

Dianella caerulea 'DBB03' PBR

By Nathan Dutschke

Cassa Blue is an improved cultivar of the common Dianella caerulea. Cassa Blue is more compact and as the name suggests it has stunning blue foliage with excellent contrast all year. This plant is tough, drought and frost tolerant and the foliage grows to approximately 40cm tall with a spread of 40 cm. Its form is more of a clumping Dianella caerulea rather than spreading. Its stunning blue foliage, and highly desirable size and shape, make it the ideal plant for commercial landscapes, and home garden designs.

Cassa Blue has an abundance of baby blue flowers, which last for about 2 months in spring and when planted on mass creates a spectacular display. The flowers can grow to about 55cm in height and are followed by attractive purple berries which last for a further month into summer.

Cassa Blue’s highly desirable height and shape make it ideal for specimen plantings or mass plantings in the home garden and landscape design. It is a great plant for low water use gardens due to its ability to cope with drought once established. It will also work well with reds and greens in the garden providing excellent colour contrast. Cassa Blue is slower growing than other Dianella caerulea cultivars; it tends to be more clumping rather than spreading.

Cassa Blue tolerates a wide range of soil types and climatic conditions. It will grow well in full sun and moderately shaded positions and will tolerate windy and salt laden windy positions. Good for hot, dry areas and heavy frost cold areas, Cassa Blue will also keep good winter colour in the colder areas.

Cassa Blue requires little maintenance. Older leaves can be trimmed annually as required to maintain a neat appearance. Plant in a well drained position and mulch well. Cassa Blue responds very well to a native slow release fertilizer once per year in spring.

Visit the website www.ozbreed.com.au for detailed specification sheets. Planting specifications can change for different regions of Australia .