Blaze™ Dianella

Blaze Dianella (Dianella tasmanica 'NPW2') is a small strappy leaf plant grown for deep purple foliage, about 40cm high and 40cm wide. Bred by Ozbreed as a heat tolerant alternative to cordylines and phormiums, it gives the same dark colour in beds where those plants scorch, and it takes heat, drought and frost. The depth of purple shifts with climate and season, deepest in cooler conditions.

Why you'll love it

• Deep purple foliage for most of the year. The leaves hold a dark purple tone that most strappy plants cannot offer, which makes it a colour accent rather than a green filler.
• Heat tolerance cordylines lack. Phormiums and cordylines collapse in hot, dry summers. Blaze was selected to hold its foliage through them.
• Frost and drought tolerant. A plant that handles a Tasmanian winter and a dry mainland summer with the same clump.
• Sun or heavy shade. Few coloured foliage plants perform under trees and in the open. This one does, given the right position for your region.
• Small and tidy. At 40cm it fits a narrow bed, a border or a pot, and it needs a cut back only every few years.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 40cm apart in offset rows, which gives about six plants per square metre, for a continuous band of purple. At 50cm spacing the clumps still meet within two seasons.

Feature and contrast planting. Set it in drifts against lime or silver foliage, or beside a pale wall, where the dark leaves are the point.

Roadsides and verges. Ozbreed lists it for roadside planting, which tells you how tough it is once established.

Pots. A single clump fills a 30cm pot and keeps its colour on a balcony or a terrace.

Growing Blaze Dianella in Australia

Position and climate. South of Sydney, full sun to heavy shade. From Sydney north, plant it in light to heavy shade, or in full sun only near the coast. It is listed for New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia, and not for Queensland. The purple is strongest in cool temperate gardens and in winter, and softens towards green in hot summers.

Soil. Sandy to clay soils all suit it, but avoid very poor soil. Plant with the crown at soil level, never below it, and keep mulch away from the base.

Water and feed. Water as required for the first 8 to 13 weeks. After that it manages on rainfall in most gardens, with a drink in long dry spells. Mulch with a chunky mulch and feed a slow release fertiliser in spring.

Pruning. Trim older leaves as they fade. Every three to seven years cut the whole clump back by half in late winter; every three years keeps it looking its best.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Blaze Dianella in 300mm pots singly, a mature clump that shows its full colour from the day it is planted and suits a feature spot, a pot or a short run along a path. The plant travels upright and settles within a few weeks; expect new leaves from the centre of the clump in the first growing season.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Our dianella care guide
• Browse the full dianella range
• See the full Ozbreed range
• More grasses and strappy leaf plants

Common questions

Why has the purple faded?

Colour depends on climate and season. It is deepest in cool conditions and in winter, and softens in hot weather. In warm regions more shade keeps it darker.

Can I grow it in Queensland?

Ozbreed does not list it for Queensland. From Sydney north it needs shade, and the humid subtropics are a stretch for it.

How far apart should I plant it?

Plant 40cm apart for a dense massed effect, up to 50cm where you can wait a second season for the clumps to meet.