Under-Utilised Strappy Native Plant Cultivars: Lomandras and Dianellas

When it comes to strappy native plants, we’re spoilt for choice with literally thousands of varieties available in just the Lomandra and Dianella genera alone. So, why do we all flock to the same old plants time and time again?

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a reason why Tanika® Lomandra and Little Jess™  Dianella are so popular: they’re dependable, functional and they don’t need babysitting. Plus, they’ve got incredible brand recognition based on years of solid marketing and proven performance.

But sometimes, we’re looking for something a bit different that we don’t see all the time, which performs every bit as well as the most commonly known varieties. In this article, we’re going to explore some of the best and under-rated strappies that Aussie landscape architects and designers need to add to their palettes.

These plants have all been tried and tested in harsh Australian conditions and have all proven their worth as no fuss, functional and reliable specimens. Give them a go on your next project!

Lomandras

Evergreen Baby™ Lomandra labill ‘LM600’ PBR is the most recently released variety we’ll mention in this article. It’s a compact, low-growing ground cover which doesn’t impact line-of-sight and can handle both periodic flooding and drought, making it perfect for SUDS and depressed positions without adequate drainage.

It’s also male-sterile, meaning it won’t produce unwanted plants and isn’t particularly attractive to insects and birds. Perfect for near airports, seating areas, playgrounds and roadsides where discouraging birds is a priority.

Tropic Cascade™ Lomandra hystrix ‘LHWP’ PBR is a significantly larger plant, with beautiful weeping foliage and attractive, fragrant inflorescences.

It’s one of our head breeder Todd’s favourite plants of all time due to its tolerance to wet and dry conditions, sunny and shaded positions, as well as its attractive appearance which is at home in wild native gardens as well as modern styles.

If you’re looking for a feature plant that really draws attention, look no further than Great White™ Lomandra longifolia ‘MURU’ PBR. With variegated creamy white and green foliage that stays much cleaner than other variegated varieties, there’s no reason why this plant is much more popular.

When you use it as a feature planting with 1-5 specimens in a particular space, they stand out. And when you mass plant them together in the landscape, they help you draw attention to other landscape features with contrasting colours.

Dianellas

Clarity Blue™ Dianella hybrid ‘DP401’ PBR has incredibly clean blue foliage with a clumping habit that spreads less, meaning it won’t take over the whole garden bed. It displays masses of dainty blue flowers in summer which attract native buzz pollinators like teddy bear bees and blue banded bees.

On the other hand, some landscapes require some spreading rhizomes to fill in as a garden matures.

Revelation® Dianella revoluta ‘DRG04’ PBR has greener tones and spreads slightly, although it’s far from being invasive. It flowers from mid to late spring and attracts those native buzz pollinators, and it’s one of the best-performing native flax plants for periodic wet feet and poor soils.

Speaking of spreading varieties, Lucia™ Dianella caerulea ‘DC101’ PBR is possibly the best ever spreading native flax for roadsides and median strips.

With just 4-6 plants per square metre, you can quickly get full coverage which looks amazing and crowds out weeds. Although it may discolour slightly in cold climates, it can survive down to  -7°c with minor leaf burn. It quickly recovers from damage such as frost and being driven over with rhizomes which shoot up fresh growth.

Daniel’s Wrap

There’s nothing wrong with popular native strappy plant varieties. They’re usually popular for a very good reason! However, for landscape architects, designers and home gardeners, there are other options that are used in fewer designs but are every bit as no fuss, functional and reliable.

They just aren’t used as often, and that means you can use them to create plant combinations which aren’t seen as often. Be different, be unique! But instead of risking it with untested plants, use these tried and tested varieties which most of the country is still sleeping on.