Re: Dianella species

RHS lists 25-30 species. You have more in your
collection than are commonly sold here in California,
of which D. tasmanica is most common, D. intermedia
becoming more available, variegated hybrids of both
these species, and D. ensifolia/Umbrella Dracena,
which is significantly different in growth habit; it
grows stems to 4~5 feet tall, with foliage grouped at
top of stems, and looks somewhat like a small bamboo
when not in berry.  Foliage is shorter and more
compact, with same washed out blue/yellow small
flowers,(blooming now in Berkeley), and later very
showy purple berries which are more pea sized than D.
tasmanica.  I would suspect that D. ensifolia may be
more tender, but don't know for sure.  

For gardens with limited room, I'd suggest avoiding D.
tasmanica, because it spreads aggressively and can
become 5 foot tall by across in 2 years time here in
California in a well watered garden.  I have also seen
it do quite well in full sun and absolutely no summer
water here in Berkeley, although the berries are
fleeting in such conditions, and the foliage stays
more manageable at only 3 feet tall.  I've been told
this is also a good understory plant below Eucalyptus
globulus.  D. intermedia is more manageable,(foliage
is only 18" long) and will flower and fruit in quite
deep shade, as well as having narrower, more grass
like foliage, and again, smaller, but still numerous
deep blue berries, which will last for several months
if protected from winds and rambunctious dogs.


--- Einionygarddwr@aol.com wrote:
> I've started growing these Australasian plants in
> the last few years and am 
> becoming increasingly enamoured of them. For one
> thing it would appear that 
> they don't insist on perfect drainage at all times
> simply in order to stay 
> alive. I also like them for their evergreen foliage
> (ok, it's not the world's 
> most glamorous foliage, but I've seen far worse...)
> as much as for their 
> flowers and berries. This spring I'm glad to report
> that those plants I've 
> got outside have sailed through a cold winter (cold
> for here: -7C) which was 
> compounded by the fact that, like the rest of the
> British Isles, we've 
> 'enjoyed' an incredibly & uniformly wet climate
> since last August, which has 
> contributed to a lot of winter damage.
> 
> At present I have one well-established clump of
> D.tasmanica, which has 
> flowered for the last two years, and a young
> unflowered plant of what is 
> either D.laevis or D.revoluta (the donor was unsure
> which), as well as young 
> seedlings of D.brevipedunculata, D.caerulea and
> D.nigra. With the exception 
> of D.brevipedunculata they've all been outside this
> winter, and the 
> seedlings, in 3" pots, must have been frozen
> through. All are gloriously 
> alive.
> 
> This leads me to want to try some more, and to ask
> three questions. Firstly, 
> how many species are there all told, and are they
> restricted to Australasia, 
> or do they occur elsewhere? Secondly, how many of
> these are currently in 
> commerce? I  assume that this figure varies from one
> part of the globe to 
> another: the current figure for the UK appears to be
> 6. Thirdly, how do the 
> other species compare, in matters such as flower and
> berry colour, hardiness, 
> ornamental value?
> 
> Many thanks in advance for any information.
> 
> Einion Hughes,
> Rhyl, Denbighshire, Wales, UK
> (approx. Zone 8/9, though you would never think so
> just now - bucketing down 
> with rain... again.....!!)
> 


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