Dianella ‘Emerald Fountain’

Dianella 'Emerald Fountain' (Dianella 'Emerald Fountain') is the strappy native landscapers reach for when a planting has to look right with almost no attention. It forms an arching emerald green clump about 1m tall and 80cm wide, throws sprays of small blue flowers in spring, then purple berries the birds take. Frost, drought, salt, poor soil and periodic wet feet are all within its range.

Why you'll love it

• It tolerates almost everything. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, salt tolerant, comfortable in poor soil and able to cope with ground that stays damp.
• Arching, not stiff. The foliage bends over into a soft fountain shape rather than standing up like a spiky agave.
• Flowers and berries. Sprays of small blue flowers in spring are followed by purple berries that bring birds into the bed.
• It works nationally. Tropical, subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens all suit it, and one cut back every two or three years is the whole job.

Where it works best

Mass planting and groundcover. Plant 60cm apart, about three plants per square metre. At that density the clumps knit within two seasons into a continuous arching layer that shades out weeds and holds soil on a slope.

Borders and edging. A single row along a path or driveway gives a soft, even edge at knee height. It never needs shaping, and it looks the same in July as in January.

Coastal gardens and difficult ground. Salt tolerance, poor soil tolerance and the ability to sit through a wet spell make it the plant for the corner where nothing else has worked.

Growing Dianella Emerald Fountain in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade both work. Full sun gives the tightest clump and the most flowers, part shade a softer, taller arch. It handles tropical through to cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it is frost hardy.

Soil. Almost anything. It performs in poor sandy ground and tolerates heavy clay that stays damp after rain, which is why it appears in commercial landscapes. Mulch 75mm deep around, not over, the crown.

Water and feed. Water weekly for the first two months to settle the roots, then only through extended dry spells. A controlled release native fertiliser in early spring is optional, and heavy feeding makes the clump floppy.

Pruning. Cut the whole clump back to about 150mm every two or three years in early spring, once the centre browns off. It reshoots quickly and comes back denser.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown as tube stock, which is the standard way strappy natives are sold and the reason a large planting is affordable at all. Planted out in warm weather with water for the first two months, each tube fills to a recognisable clump in one season and reaches full size in about two.

Tube stock travels very well because the root ball is small and intact. Plant it out promptly rather than holding it in the tube, where the roots start to circle. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete dianella care guide
• Browse grasses and strappy leaf plants
• Compare plants suited to mass planting
• See the wider Australian native range

Common questions

How many plants do I need per square metre?

About three at the recommended 60cm spacing. For a faster result on a visible bed, tighten to 50cm and use four per square metre, though the clumps will want cutting back sooner.

Will it cope with frost and cold?

Yes. It is frost hardy and suits cool temperate gardens as well as the subtropics, so cold southern districts and the tablelands are within its range. Foliage may look tired after a hard winter, and a spring cut back sorts that out.

Does it need cutting back?

Only every two or three years. Cut the whole clump to about 150mm in early spring when the centre starts to brown, and it reshoots within weeks looking better than before.