Common Name: Blue Flax Lily

General Information

Dianella caerulea is a very variable, evergreen, perennial, plant growing from a rhizomatous rootstock; it forms a cluster of growth usually less than 100cm tall, though some forms can reach 200cm[]..
The plant yields a fibre and also has edible fruits, which are sometimes gathered from the wild for local use. It is often grown as an ornamental in gardens, valued especially for its evergreen foliage and blue fruits.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland to southern New Guinea

Habitat

Sandy soils near creeks on heaths and in sparse woodlands[]. Found in a variety of habitats from heaths to open eucalypt forest and rainforest, often near the coast[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.75 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Dianella caerulea is a very variable plant with a wide range from the temperate zone of Tasmania, north through eastern Australia to southern New Guinea. Different forms of the plant can succeed in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. Hardier forms can tolerate some snow and short-lived frosts, in somewhat colder parts of the temperate zone they will often succeed outdoors in the dappled shade of a sheltered stable environments such as a woodland, so long as temperatures do not drop far below zero for long periods[].
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in ordinary garden soil in sun or dappled shade[]. Requires a well-drained neutral to acid soil[].
The species is very variable and has been divided up into several forms. These are:-
var. aquilonia. A solitary tufted plant up to 60cm tall, found in northeast coastal Queensland
var. assera. This grows as a solitary tufted plant up to 180cm tall along the New South Wales coast and Blue Mountains to northeast Queensland, often found in rainforest.
var. caerulea. A solitary tufted plant up to 50cm tall, found from Tasmania to southeast Queensland
var. cinerascens This is a pale-grey leaved form up to 80cm tall growing inland in New South Wales
var. petasmatodes A more mat-forming variant, which reaches 200cm in diameter and 130cm high. It is found on the far north coast of New South Wales into Queensland.
var. producta Up to 130cm tall, found in eastern New South Wales and into southeast Queensland. It has a greenish white to blue perianth
var. protensa is a smaller variant up to 50cm tall, which grows as a solitary tuft. It is found through New South Wales to central Queensland, growing in sclerophyll forest on sandy soils
var. vannata is a taller variant to 130cm recorded from the Blue Mountains, the far north coast of New South Wales, eastern Queensland to southern New Guinea.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[] The indigo-coloured berries are up to 15mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is sometimes grown as a low hedging plant in ornamental gardens.

Other Uses

A very strong silky fibre is obtained from the leaves. The leaves are also used in making baskets[].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in luke-warm water and then sow in spring in gentle heat in a greenhouse. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 months at 25°c[]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first two years. When large enough, plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer.
Division as the plants come into growth in the spring[]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.