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Tasred™

Dianella tasmanica 'TR20' PVR

By Nathan Dutschke

At last there is an ornamental flax lily on the market that gives designers and landscapers colour throughout the seasons, particularly in colder regions. At any time of the year Tasred has a noticeably red coloured base, but the best time for Tasred is in the cooler months when it shows off more vivid red tones, sometimes through the entire leaf. Spring and autumn colour will show tones of yellow with green and a red base, and in summer Tasred will generally show green foliage with a red base. Tasred has a broader leaf compared to other Dianella varieties giving it a more tropical look that is a great contrast plant to finer leaf Lomandras such as Tanika.

Tasred is a hardy and versatile plant suited to a wide range of conditions and grows to a height and width of approximately 40cm x 40cm. This is a drought and frost tolerant variety. Tasred makes a great alternative to Phormium’s.

In spring attractive blue and yellow flowers and deep red flower stems appear on Tasred. In summer the flowers make way for large, bold and eye catching purple berries. Please note; it is not advisable to eat the berries of this species due to the berries causing digestive discomfort. Dianella caerulea and Dianella revoluta varieties such as Little Jess and Little Rev have edible berries unlike Dianella tasmanica.

Tasred is perfect for mass plantings, as an accent plant, for foliage or grassy gardens, Japanese style gardens, low maintenance and low water requirement gardens. It tolerates a wide range of soil and climatic conditions and is suited to full sun and part to moderately heavy shade. Tasred responds well to a native slow release fertilizer once a year in spring. Older leaves can be removed as required and the plant can be trimmed back hard to the base of the plant if needed.

For more technical information please visit landscapegardeningplants.co.nz/tasred.html