Lomandra

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; growth becomes looser in deep shade.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, then deeply during prolonged dry spells. Established plants tolerate drought, but containers need more frequent watering.

Soil

Adaptable to sandy, loamy or clay soils, provided water does not remain around the crown. Tolerates moderately poor soil and a broad pH range.

Height

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Spread

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Flowers

Spring to summer; small, fragrant cream to pale yellow flowers in dense clusters among the leaves, with stiff, pointed bracts.

Foliage

Evergreen. Long, tough, arching green leaves with blunt or irregularly toothed tips; foliage may bronze or scorch in cold weather.

Growth

Moderate; usually forms a substantial clump within two to three growing seasons.

Care needed

Low

• Water deeply whenever the root zone starts to dry during the first growing season.
• Keep the crown at soil level and avoid planting in a low spot that holds winter water.
• Apply a thin layer of mulch around the clump, keeping it clear of the crown.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak; rich feeding is usually unnecessary.
• Divide overcrowded clumps in spring, keeping several growing points and a good root section on each division.
• In colder gardens, choose a sheltered site; exposed zone 8 plants can suffer substantial winter damage.

Pruning. In spring, remove dead leaves and spent flower stems at the base, wearing gloves around the pointed flower bracts. If a clump is badly damaged or untidy, cut it back to about 6-8 in (15-20 cm) as active growth resumes; annual shearing is unnecessary.

Early spring

Remove winter-damaged foliage once severe frost has passed.

Spring

Plant or divide clumps as growth resumes; water divisions thoroughly.

Late spring

Refresh mulch without covering the crown; feed lightly only if needed.

Summer

Check new plants and containers regularly, watering deeply rather than little and often.

Late summer

Remove dry flower stems if they catch on paths or make the clump look untidy.

Winter

Check drainage and protect container roots from hard freezes in colder regions.

• Repeat clumps along paths or driveways for a consistent, arching edge, allowing enough room to keep leaves and pointed flower stems off the walking surface.
• Mass on sunny banks to cover soil with dense, fibrous-rooted clumps.
• Combine with grevilleas and bottlebrushes in Australian native planting for a soft contrast to woody shrubs.
• Use beside paving, gravel or broad-leaved plants to add fine texture and year-round structure.
• Grow in large containers to frame an entrance or soften a terrace.

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

Plant it with: Kangaroo paw, Grevillea, Bottlebrush, Flax lily, Westringia and Society garlic.

Wildlife: Dense clumps shelter small animals and insects. In Australia, the leaves feed the caterpillars of several native skipper butterflies, and the flowers attract small insects.

• Crown or root rot in persistently wet soil: improve drainage, reduce watering and replace plants with soft, rotting crowns.
• Winter scorch or frost damage: shelter plants from cold winds and remove damaged leaves after severe frost has passed.
• Brown leaf tips during establishment or in containers: check root-zone moisture and water thoroughly when dry; avoid frequent shallow watering.
• Sparse growth in heavy shade: move to a brighter position rather than adding extra fertilizer.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people, though formal safety information is limited, particularly for horses. No part is established as poisonous, but this does not make it suitable as pet food or livestock forage. Tough leaves and pointed flower bracts can cause physical irritation.

• Blue flax lily (Dianella caerulea)

  Has blue to violet flowers on branching stems, followed by conspicuous blue berries; lomandra has cream flower clusters and dry seed capsules.

• New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax)

  Usually much larger, with broad, stiff, sword-shaped leaves arranged in distinct upright fans rather than lomandra's finer, arching clumps.

• Big blue lilyturf (Liriope muscari)

  Generally shorter, with purple or white flower spikes followed by dark berries; lomandra has pale flowers clustered among stiff, pointed bracts.

The species name longifolia means 'long-leaved', referring to its strap-shaped foliage.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in spring using a sharp spade or saw, then replant promptly and keep watered while roots establish. The species can also be raised from fresh seed; seedlings vary, so divide named cultivars to preserve their characteristics.

Accepted botanical name

Lomandra longifolia

Native range

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

Measured

Average height 80 cm.

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