S & J Nursery’s Guide to Growing
Variegated Flax Lily / Dianella tasmanica ‘variegata’
in the Northeast Florida Jacksonville | St. Augustine area Landscape
Variegated Flax Lily Origins:
– Dianella Tasmanica Variegata is native to Australia and makes a great addition to the North Florida | Jacksonville | St. Augustine area landscape.
– They are an ideal landscape plant for low maintenance, low water, no trim landscaping.
– Hardy in Zones 8-11
Variegated Flax Lily Preferred Exposure:
– Variegated Flax Lily will grow well in full sun, shade and partial
sun or partial shade locations in the North Florida | Jacksonville | St. Augustine area.
Variegated Flax Lily Foliage:
– Wide strap like foliage is brightly variegated green and white, upright
clumps form a rounded foliage.
Variegated Flax Lily Soil Preference / Salt tolerance:
– Variegated Flax Lily will tolerate a wide range of soil components.
– Plants seem to prefer well draining and sandy soils.
– A personal note…. my home garden contains over 50 Dianella
tasmanica planted along a flood prone drainage ditch area and they have so far thrived right through the rain seasons even after being severely flooded for almost 10 days in a row during the 2012 summer rains.
That being said the rest of the year other than the few months of summer that area is still well drained and extremely sandy.
-Medium to high salt tolerance.
Variegated Flax Lily Size Variance:
– Dianella Tasmanica can grow 2 ft in Height and spread 2 ft
Wide.
Variegated Flax Lily Growth Habit:
– Evergreen, clumping almost grass like perennial plant forms an attractive dense mound of foliage.
Variegated Flax Lily Growth Rate:
– Variegated Flax Lily is a fairly fast grower, expect them to double their size in the first year after being planted.
Variegated Flax Lily Bloom:
-Blooms are small and held high above the foliage o thin delicate stalks in the spring. Not very showy.
Variegated Flax Lily Water Requirements:
– Low to moderate water needs make Variegated Flax Lily ideal for low maintenance plantings.
– Plants will require supplemental irrigation after being planted in the ground from the S & J Nursery container but will survive on their own with little help after establishing itself into the landscape.
Butterfly or Bird Attracting:
– Variegated Flax Lily is not touted as a butterfly or bird attracting plant.
Best Uses For Variegated Flax Lily Grass in the North Florida | Jacksonville | St.
Augustine area garden:
– Variegated Flax Lily is an excellent evergreen perennial selection for the North Florida | Jacksonville | St. Augustine area landscape.
– Low maintenance landscape selection.
– Plant in masses around a bird bath, palm, or other accent to brighten up any garden setting.
– Bold bright foliage adds instant color and texture to the garden. .
– Excellent front of the border planting for an instant curb appeal. Great
substitute for lower growing annual beds where you are just tired of having to replant each season.
– Dianella Tasmanica variegata makes a great potted accent plant
particularly when in a mixed flowering decorative pot.
Care of Variegated Flax Lily in the North Florida | Jacksonville | St. Augustine
area landscape:
– Plant may be dug and divided in the spring every2-3 years to make additional plants to locate in other areas of the garden.
– Trim out old or damaged foliage in early spring before new growth emerges for a neat and tidy appearance.
– Water every day during the establishment period after planting in the garden from a nursery container.
– Fertilize each spring with a handful of garden compost or a mixture of Milorganite and a slow release poly coated plant food such as Osmocote or Stay Green general purpose plant food or 10-10-10.