[There is published info on this plant following my description]
My description:
I have had this plant for at least...Read More 7 years. I do not recall the source except that it was from a local San Diego specialty nursery. It came labeled as Dianella ensifolia.
It seems to like protection from harsh sun and winds especially during "Santa Anna" conditions (strong, hot inland winds). Likes consistant moisture, well drained soil. Can be more drought tolerant in high shade and from mid-day sun.
This plant looks somewhat and behaves much like a Bamboo Palm (Chamaedora). It is both rhizomatous and tends to branch at the nodes of maturing canes.
It has the typical Dianella flowers although smaller 8-10mm and a light pastie violet or blue (same yellow stamens). The berries that are produced in abundance in late spring here are that same attractive irridescent bluish-purplish coloration (more purple than D. tasmanica). They are held high on the plant just above the "umbrella" fan of leaves in a pendant fashion.
Just like bamboos the plants may take several years to reach more mature heights- (fans on tall canes of 2' to 5'). During that time blooming is strongly apparent on the previous seasons canes. Older canes have become much branched and the panicles of flowers are smaller and not as noticeable.
My option to enhance the structural beauty of the plant was to prune out much of the old- much branched cane growth. The effect right now in spring is small fans of leaves with a pendant panicle overhead on top of 4'tall 1/4"thick stems.
It amazes me that this plant seems to be almost unknown. At present it is my #1 Dianella and I have tried a few over the years!
As far as uses: Think structural-narrow form, moderately tall, evergreen, Colorful berries, ideal container plant.
Botanical Name- Dianella bambusifolia Hallier f.
Hallier, J.G. (1914) Nova Guinea 8: 995, t. 182. Type: Sudwest-Neu-Guinea: Trion-Bai? ZIPPELIUS, Hb. Lugd.-Bat.
Common name- Flax Lily; Lily, flax
Stem- Solitary, tufted herb up to 1 m tall; tufts less than 10 mm wide at base, stems up to 80 cm long.
Leaves- 11-30 cm long, lamina 16-20 x 1.3-2 cm, flat, attenuate; petioles about 6-7 cm long, winged and V-shaped in transverse section. Leaves arranged in a single plane like a fan. Venation parallel with 4-5 main veins on each side of the midrib. Small serrations on lamina margin and on the midrib below, lamina 2-3 cm wide. Sheaths conduplicate and slightly occluded distally, resembling a petiole, ? length of the lamina.
Flowers- Inflorescence exceeding foliage, narrowly cylindrical in outline; cymules condensed, 4-15 -flowered; pedicels 1.5-10 mm long and angular in T.S. Perianth segments elliptic. Sepals 4.5-5.5 mm long and 5-nerved, purple. Petals 3.7-5.2 mm long and 3-nerved, pale blue to white. Filament swelling 0.8-1 mm long, brown. Ovules 4 per locule.
Fruit- Berry with 4 seeds, 4-7 mm long. Seed 3.8-4.5 mm long, irregularly ribbed laterally; testa granulate, dull to shiny dark brown to black.
Seedlings- Features not available.
Distribution and Ecology- Occurs in CYP and NEQ as far south as the Whitsunday Islands. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 660 m. Grows in rainforest, vine forest and closed woodland. Also known from New Guinea.
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UPDATE August 18, 2017:
Very hard to imagine that this plant was found in the wild with "tufted canes (only) to 1 meter"!
The only plants I have that small are immature seedlings! The conclusion I might draw is that either I have a subspecies or a separate species altogether!
[There is published info on this plant following my description]
My description:
I have had this plant for at least...Read More