Dianella, Tasman Flax Lily, Tasmanian Flax Lily 'Variegata'

On Dec 29, 2019, Rests from Bryan, TX wrote:

I have had this in a bed for over a year. It has never really grown much. I wonder if it needs more sun than the hour it gets in the morning. I have tried fertilizing it more often, but it just it never really does anything. It said on the label from Lowe's that it needs partial shade, but I see some in town that gets full sun for hours that is growing like crazy. I may try moving it somewhere else and see what happens.

April 2020

I have grown more negative about this plant. I have done everything to grow it in the right conditions. It has been a real dud. Never grows and the plant just flops over. I think I am going to just pull it up and throw it away. It just always looks ugly. It could be our salty water here in South Central Texas... read more?

On May 19, 2015, docaly from Albuquerque, NM wrote:

Since moving from central FL almost 9 years ago where I first discovered Dianella, I have been seeing this plant everywhere in the Austin, TX area. It thrives in the very hot and dry TX heat, doesn't seem to mind it in dappled light or direct afternoon sun. It even does well in spite of some fairly cold nights.

As a test environment, I put it in my front and back yards and put it on ignore with annual rain and summer drip (1x per week), average. It's very happy. Like someone else said in FL nurseries, we can't seem to keep it in stock in Austin, either!

I would suggest that zones 8a and 8b be added to the areas where this does quite well. It's a great overall plant!

On May 5, 2013, MetaLark from Houston, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:

I have the variegated flax lily growing in a shady spot--but with a little dappling of sunlight part of the day. It is a very slow grower, and I nearly lost it one year due to overwatering. But now, at four years, it is looking beautiful, and I tell it so every day.

--Houston

On Jun 20, 2011, yaxis132 wrote:

I grow mine here in St Pete, FL in full, all day Florida sun. It is in an extremely hot and dry part of the landscape with very well drained sandy soil. It has never once suffered, and I planted it in the heat of the early summer and never once have added supplemental water except during the first week. It never browns and doesn't seem to be affected by our mild winter weather (to about 32 deg F a few days each year). i am so impressed at it's easy upkeep that i just bought 15 more for the areas where nothing else will grow. the blooms are non-descript at best, bit the foliage is striking and healthy. A++

On May 26, 2010, Kiyzersoze from Coral Springs, FL (Zone 10b) wrote:

I love this plant. Never has dead leaves that need cutting, is almost always always in bloom, doesn't take over, and is pretty much care free. If you are using it to fill in an area it will take a while. It is not quick to spread.

On Oct 24, 2009, donnacreation from Sumter, SC wrote:

This plant is marketed here in central SC, and the tags say cold hardy to zone 8a. My flax lilies turned to mush during this past winter, but they are still green and firm at their base. I'm hoping they'll return quickly this spring - if not, they aren't a good choice for my neck of the woods.
Update July 2010 - After a very cold winter my flax lilies have returned and are about 1' in length . Variegated japanese iris has a similar look and is better suited for my area.

On Oct 24, 2009, donnacreation from Sumter, SC wrote:

This plant is marketed here in central SC, and the tags say cold hardy to zone 8a. My flax lilies turned to mush during this past winter, but they are still green and firm at their base. I'm hoping they'll return quickly this spring - if not, they aren't a good choice for my neck of the woods.
Update July 2010 - After a very cold winter my flax lilies have returned and are about 1' in length . Variegated japanese iris has a similar look and is better suited for my area.

On Feb 15, 2008, LeslieT from Bellaire, TX wrote:

I've grown this lovely plant for several years in the Houston area under appropriate cultural conditions. I am plagued with heavy scale infestation which is much worse in shadier conditions. As an organic gardener, I am unwilling to use systemic insecticides and so far, horticultural oil has not helped. I am considering removing nearly all of these large, lovely plants because they've become so unsightly. This is extremely disappointing.

On Jul 25, 2006, figgybonsai from Lakeland, FL wrote:

I work at a large nursery here in town and I must say that as hard as we have tried we cant keep it in stock, even in this sweltering summer heat it is thriving.

On Apr 14, 2006, sterhill from Atlanta, GA (Zone 7b) wrote:

I've not had much success with this plant - well, not yet. I moved three of them into more shade, cut back the leaves into fans, replanted in forest loam and I now have one new blade. I moved them as they seemed to be getting too much sun and the leaves were browning. Full sun does not necessarily mean full sun in Atlanta.

We'll see...

On Aug 9, 2004, henryr10 from Cincinnati, OH (Zone 6b) wrote:

Ours is potted and gets only about an hour or two of full late afternoon sun. It is thriving.
Watering is no chore as it seems to love dry conditions.

A quite beautiful plant for partial shade.
It really lights up a dark area.

The strangest thing happens in dappled light though.
On a windy day or one w/ fast moving clouds it seems to disappear in the glare of the sun, only to reappear as the shade hits it.

I thought at first it was my vision going.
I've since had several people look at it and they see the same thing w/o prompting.
Quite odd!

On Nov 19, 2003, Ultraviolet from Fort Lauderdale, FL (Zone 10b) wrote:

I use this plant frequently in landscape designs in South Florida. Occasionally it gets covered in scale more often in heavy shade and less often in sunnier spots. The foliage is very striking.