Dianella plants, commonly known as NZ Blueberry Plants or Turutu, are beautiful NZ native plants. They bring texture and colour to invigorate spaces and are an important part of many ecosystems. Our guides will empower you to grow Dianella plants that will not only thrive but put on a beautiful show.
This series of articles answers many of the frequently asked questions about Dianella plants, such as how fast they grow, their hardiness, and more!
The size of Dianella depends on the specific variety you choose, as there are many different types with varying heights and spreads. However, most Dianella varieties grow to between 30-90 cm at maturity. They can spread from 30 cm to 1.2 m, depending on the variety and growing conditions. Some specific examples include:
Dianella are fast-growing plants. They can grow 30 cm and more per year, depending on the variety and the growing conditions. Some varieties, such as Dianella tasmanica, is one of the faster growing species.
Some Dianella are native to New Zealand. There are 14 species of dianella native to New Zealand, and they are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, coastal areas, and alpine meadows. Some of the most common Dianella species include:
Dianella are popular plants for gardens and landscapes across New Zealand. They are valued for their attractive foliage and flowers, as well as their low-maintenance requirements. Dianella are a great choice for native plant gardens, as it provides food and habitat for a variety of native wildlife.
Dianella caerulea has several common names, the most popular ones being: Blue Flax-Lily, Blueberry Lily, and Paroo Lily.
The most common name for Dianella caerulea 'Cassa Blue' is Blue Flax Lily. Some also refer to it simply as Cassa Blue.
The common name for dianella plants is flax lily. It is also sometimes called blueberry, turutu, or whistles. Dianella is a genus of about 40 species of flowering plants in the family Asphodelaceae, native to Africa, South-east Asia, the Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Australia.
The NZ Blueberry, also known as Dianella nigra or turutu in Maori, is actually not a true blueberry. It's a NZ native perennial with colourful, flax-like foliage. Dianella nigra has berries that resemble blueberries in colour (blue, purple, or white) but are not related to true blueberries. They are inedible for humans and may even be poisonous if eaten in large amounts.
Unfortunately, there isn't a definitive reason available online for why Dianella nigra is called "turutu" in Māori. Readily available information doesn't provide a specific explanation for the origin of the name. The name "turutu" might be related to some characteristic of the plant, like the sound made by the wind rustling through the leaves, the shape of the flower, or the colour of the berries. The meaning of "turutu" might hold cultural significance or be tied to traditional Māori knowledge about the plant. This detail is not widely documented.
Choosing a variety of Dianella plant that works for you can be challenging given the sheer number that are available. Working through the different varieties, their sizes and preferences, and so on, can take considerable time. The Plant Company’s series of short articles aims to offer concise and easy to follow advice so you can determine the variety for your needs.
Dianella 'Blutopia' is a beautiful perennial that is known for its soft blue foliage and violet-blue flowers. It is a compact, clumping plant that grows to 75-100 cm tall and and 80 cm wide. The leaves are strap-like and lance-shaped. The flowers are borne in late spring or early summer.
Dianella ‘Blutopia’ is a low-maintenance plant. It is tolerant of a variety of soil conditions, as long as they are well-drained. It is also drought-tolerant, once established and can grow in full sun to part shade. If you are looking for a beautiful and easy-to-care-for perennial for your garden, Dianella 'Blutopia' is a great option.
Dianella caerulea 'Breeze' is a popular perennial owing to its tidy and low-maintenance characteristics. It grows as a clump of upright, strap-like leaves that are dark green. It produces delicate sprays of blue flowers in spring. The flowers are followed by a display of small, rich purple berries that add another layer of interest in summer.
This plant thrives in a wide range of conditions. It tolerates full sun to part shade, and can withstand drought, frost, coastal environments, and even windy conditions. It is also relatively fast growing and low maintenance. The ideal soil type is one that is well-drained.
Dianella caerulea 'Breeze' is a beautiful and low-maintenance plant that can add colour, texture, and interest to your garden. It is great for borders, mass planting, or using as a groundcover. Its versatility and easy care make it a perfect choice for busy gardeners.
Dianella caerulea 'Cassa Blue' is a popular perennial known for its stunning blue foliage and beautiful flowers. It is a compact, clump-forming plant that is perfect for low-maintenance gardens. Some of the key features of this Dianella include:
With its beautiful blue foliage, compact size, easy care requirements, and lovely flowers, Dianella caerulea 'Cassa Blue' is a perfect addition to gardens of all shapes and sizes. It is a great choice for borders, mass plantings, or using as a groundcover.
Dianella caerulea 'Little Jess' is a dwarf variety of the Dianella caerulea and is known for its compact size and vibrant features. It's a popular choice for gardeners due to its low-maintenance requirements and beautiful appearance:
Dianella caerulea 'Little Jess' is a beautiful and low-maintenance plant that can add colour, texture, and interest to your garden. Its compact size and easy care make it a perfect choice for borders, mass plantings, using as a groundcover, or growing in a pot.
Dianella revoluta 'Little Rev' is a compact, clump-forming perennial known for its beautiful blue-grey foliage. It's a hardy plant that's perfect for low-maintenance gardens. Some of its key characteristics include:
Dianella revoluta 'Little Rev' is a versatile and low-maintenance plant that can add beauty and texture to any garden. Its compact size makes it a great choice for smaller gardens or for growing in a pot.
Dianella nigra, commonly known as New Zealand blueberry, ink berry, or turutu in Māori, is a perennial native to New Zealand. It's a popular ornamental plant due to its attractive foliage, delicate flowers, and vibrant berries. Some of its features are:
Dianella 'Silver Streak' is a beautiful, variegated perennial valued for its striking foliage and ease of care. It is a clump-forming plant with slender, sword-like leaves that are green with bold, white-stripes running down the length. During the summer it produces delicate spikes of small, violet-blue flowers.
It thrives in full sun to light shade.
This versatile plant can be used in various landscaping applications, including borders, mass plantings, groundcover, or container gardening. With its beautiful variegated foliage, compact size, and low-maintenance needs, Dianella 'Silver Streak' is a perfect addition to gardens of all shapes and sizes.
Establishing Dianella plants and getting them to grow well is generally easy when you get a few of the basics right. This involves planting them in the right soil type, choosing the most ideal planting position, selecting the best variety, and ensuring the plants have the essentials to thrive. The Plant Company has the right advice to ensure success when you are growing Dianella.
Maintaining Dianella is easy thanks to their generally low-maintenance nature. Here are some things to keep in mind:
The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. A planting spade makes the hole digging a lot easier. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread that on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.
Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag, especially for larger grade plants, to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. If the roots are bound up, you can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. The Plant Company does not advise cutting through roots, even if the plant is rootbound, as that injures the plant. Our article, Managing Rootbound Plants explains this in more detail.
Now place the plant in the hole and make sure it is level with the soil surface before filling in around it. If it is above the soil surface, dig more out. If it is below, put in more soil and retest the level. Once the plant is set level with the soil surface, add more soil gradually and firm it around the plant using gentle pressure as you go. Scatter Native Plant Fertiliser across the soil surface after planting and then give the plant a good watering.
The most important part starts with planting, and our article, How To Plant Dianella, provides sound advice on how to do this properly. So, let’s now assume your plant is growing well and you want to keep it that way!
Winter is the perfect time for mulching your plants. Organic matter such as compost or sheep pellets should be spread liberally around the plants and then overlaid with mulch. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommend stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes. The Plant Company does not recommend adding fertiliser during winter as this is better applied in spring so less is wasted. However, adding organic matter such as compost is quite okay.
Spring is the perfect time for fertilising the plants as they start to bounce into life. The Plant Company has fertilisers which have been specially blended for different plants and in this instance, our Native Plant Fertiliser will give them the correct boost and keep them fed for 12-months. A suitable alternative is our organic fertiliser which will also keep them well fed but they will require a secondary application in autumn.
Summer is when the plants need regular watering, and this should be undertaken every second or third day on the hottest days. Plants that are establishing need particular attention as their root system will not have penetrated deep enough to secure consistent moisture yet.
Caring for Dianella in autumn is about keeping the plants healthy. Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken during spring, summer, and autumn if you have time, but this is not essential if solid fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have already been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser won’t hurt.
Whether or not you should cut back Dianella depends on a few factors:
Dianella plants require feeding to keep them growing optimally. The Plant Company’s Native Plant Fertiliser has been blended to give plants the boost they need and then sustained nutrition for the next 12 months. It is perfect for Flax.
We recommend the fertiliser is applied to the soil surface in spring just as the plants start to grow actively. More importantly, we advise that no fertiliser is placed in the hole at planting, but rather spread around the soil surface so it can wash through the roots as it releases. The Plant Company’s Native Plant Fertiliser ensures that nutrients remain in the soil around the plant rather than being lost through the soil profile to where the plant cannot reach it. This also applies to plants grown on sandy soils. This fertiliser is therefore very environmentally friendly and longer lasting than most other products in the market.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if Native Plant Fertiliser has been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have poor colouring, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush.
Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.
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