Lomandra genus

In a short period of time lomandras have gone from being plants that were 'largely ignored in cultivation' to one of the most used and useful landscape plants. There are about 50 species and many cultivars are now being introduced, selected for variation in foliage form, texture and colour. The image above shows how the large growing species Lomandra longifolia can be used successfully in the landscape (image courtesy of www.australianplants.com)

In fact, a new cultivar of Lomandra confertifolia subsp. rubiginosa 'Floral Cascade', soon to make its appearance on the Victorian market, was a crowd stopper in the rain gardens at SGA's display garden at the 2007 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

Lomandras are noted not only for their tussock-forming nature and strappy foliage, but also their flowers, which although they can seem insignificant at first - being borne well down in the foliage - can be highly aromatic, especially on warm sunny days. Male and female flowers are borne on separate plants.

Lomandras are very easily propagated from seed and division too.

Lomandra longifolia (Spiny-headed Mat Rush)

The popularity of lomandras began with the adoption of Lomandra longifolia. This species, which is found naturally in South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, has now entered the 'done to death' bracket of landscape plants. Widely used in median strip and roadside plantings, their limitations are now obvious: they can get pretty messy over time.

However, in the home garden Lomandra longifolia is still a favourite, especially as a filler and background plant, providing fresh green, strappy foliage in large tussocks. They grow in just about any soil type and aspect and are incredibly hardy. The young plant pictured right shows how the flowers are borne well within the foliage.

The cultivar 'Tanika' is a superior cultivar that is more compact and has finer, fresh green foliage.

(Tanika image left courtesy of Flemings Nurseries, which included it in its award-winning landscape display at the 2006 Chelsea Flower Show).

Lomandra confertifolia

There are now cultivars of this popular Lomandra, including the very popular 'Seabreeze'. It has much finer leaves than Lomandra longifolia and with a purplish tinge.

A new cultivar, Lomandra confertifolia subsp. rubiginosa 'Floral Cascade' has an even more weeping habit, more purplish foliage and the flower scent is very pleasant. Flowers appear from March to October. Shown here (below) are young plants as they appeared in the rain gardens of SGA's display garden at the 2007 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show), and in a pot.

The species is very variable naturally, as it occurs from Queensland through to New South Wales and Victoria. There are shorter leafed and smaller clumping variants that plant breeders are also focusing on.

Lomandra hystrix

This is a large tufting plant, with arching bright green leaves to 1.3 metres long. It is an excellent soil binder for bank stabilisation. It will accept some water logging and may be grown in heavy shade through to full sun. This species is sometimes sold as L. longifolia but it does not accept the drier conditions that L. longifolia will tolerate. It originates from Queensland and New South Wales.

Lomandra purpurea

This species is endemic to Western Australia, from between Perth and Albany in the south-west, and varies from other species in that it has dark purple flowers. It also has dark green foliage. Excellent drainage is required in filtered sun, and it will tolerate light frosts. It has proven fairly adaptable in cultivation, with the flower colour an obvious highlight.

The image of the distinctive flower shown here is courtesy of the Department of Conservation & Land Management (CALM) WA, photograph by B.A. Fuhrer.

Information sources:

Elliot, W.R. & Jones, D.L.,1993, Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation, published by Lothian.
Wrigley, J.W. & Fagg, M., 2003, Fifth Edition, Australian Native Plants, published by New Holland Publishers.

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