Little Rev flax lily

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; foliage is usually strongest in colour and most upright in good light.

Water

Water regularly during establishment, allowing the surface soil to dry between waterings. Established plants tolerate dry spells; containers need more frequent watering.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, loamy or gravelly soil. Tolerates clay where drainage is good, but dislikes waterlogged ground.

Height

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

Small blue-violet flowers with yellow anthers on slender stems in spring to early summer; flowering can be sparse.

Foliage

Evergreen. Narrow, stiffly upright, blue-grey leaves form a compact, slightly fanned clump.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.1 ft (0.35 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.3 ft (0.4 m)

4. After 3 years

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Mildly toxic: may upset a stomach

Native to

Australia

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water deeply during the first growing season, then reduce watering as roots establish.
• Plant with the crown at soil level and avoid sites that stay wet through winter.
• Apply a light dressing of balanced, slow-release fertiliser in spring if growth is weak; avoid heavy feeding.
• Keep mulch clear of the crown to reduce rot.
• Divide crowded clumps in spring and water the divisions until established.
• In colder areas, grow in a container and move it to a bright, frost-protected place for winter.

Pruning. In spring, pull or cut out dead and frost-damaged leaves individually, cutting near the base without damaging the crown. Remove spent flower stems when untidy; routine shearing is unnecessary.

Spring

Remove damaged leaves and check the crown for winter rot.

Spring

Plant or divide clumps once severe frost has passed, and water thoroughly.

Late spring

Apply a light feed if needed and refresh mulch without covering the crown.

Summer

Water new plants during dry spells and check containers regularly.

Autumn

Clear fallen debris from the clump and check that drainage remains free.

Winter

Protect container plants from prolonged freezing and keep sheltered plants barely moist.

• Repeat small groups along paths or the front of borders for a consistent blue-grey edge.
• Combine with dark-leaved shrubs and rounded plants to contrast upright leaves with softer shapes.
• Use in gravel gardens with lavender, rosemary and other plants needing free drainage.
• Plant in simple containers to give small courtyards year-round structure.
• Mass beneath open-canopied trees where there is bright light and limited root competition.

Garden styles it suits: Australian native, Contemporary minimal, Architectural minimal, Coastal, Dry gravel garden and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Kangaroo paw, Mat rush, Westringia, Lavender, Rosemary and Society garlic.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen for visiting bees. Birds may take the berries, although fruiting is not always abundant.

• Crown and root rot in wet soil: improve drainage or move the plant to a raised bed; discard badly rotted clumps.
• Frost-scorched leaves: choose a sheltered position, protect during severe cold and remove damaged foliage in spring.
• Scale insects: inspect leaf bases and treat affected plants with a labelled horticultural oil, following application precautions.
• Brown leaf tips from drought or salt build-up in containers: water thoroughly, let excess water drain and avoid excessive fertiliser.

Reliable toxicity information specific to Little Rev is limited for people, cats, dogs and horses, and reports for Dianella species differ. Do not treat its berries or other parts as edible; the likely effects and severity of ingestion are uncertain. Seek medical or veterinary advice if ingestion causes symptoms.

• Tasman flax lily (Dianella tasmanica)

  Usually forms a much larger clump with longer, broader, arching green leaves rather than Little Rev's short, upright blue-grey foliage.

• Mat rush (Lomandra longifolia)

  Has cream to yellowish flower clusters rather than blue-violet flowers, and does not produce bright blue berries.

• New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax)

  Typically has much larger, broader, tougher leaves arranged in bold fans, with tall flower stems and dry seed capsules rather than blue berries.

The species name revoluta means rolled back, referring to the recurved leaf margins.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in spring, retaining healthy roots and several shoots on each division. Seed does not reliably reproduce the cultivar. Little Rev is commonly sold under the cultivar denomination 'DR5000'; check current plant breeders' rights or patent restrictions before propagating.

Accepted botanical name

Dianella revoluta

Native range

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

Measured

Average height 50 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.