Lime Tuff Lomandra

Lime Tuff Lomandra (Lomandra longifolia 'Lime Tuff') is the fine leaved native you plant when a border needs to look the same in five years as it does on planting day. It forms a neat clump around 40cm to 50cm high and 60cm across, holds bright lime green colour year round, and never needs the hard cut back coarser lomandras demand. Planted 50cm apart it closes into a continuous ribbon within a season.

Why you'll love it

• Compact and consistent. Plants grow to much the same size, so an edge reads as one clean line rather than a row of individuals.
• Handles both extremes. Drought tolerant once established and also wet feet tolerant, so it copes with a dry January and a soggy August.
• Frost hardy and coastal hardy. It takes real frost inland and salt laden wind on the coast, which few strappy plants manage at both ends.
• Roots that hold a slope. The fibrous root system knits soil together, so it suits batters and retaining wall tops.
• Safe around pets. An Australian native that is not toxic to cats or dogs.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 50cm apart in a single row along a path or bed edge. At that spacing the clumps just touch at maturity, which keeps the line crisp.

Mass planting and groundcover. For a solid block, set plants 50cm apart on a staggered grid, about four per square metre. That gives full cover in one to two seasons.

Rockeries, walls and slopes. It tolerates poor soil, so it grows in thin gravelly ground where richer plants sulk.

Growing Lime Tuff Lomandra in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. Full sun gives the brightest colour and the tightest habit; in shade it stays green and grows looser. It performs from subtropical through warm and cool temperate to Mediterranean and arid districts.

Soil. Almost anything, including sand, clay, poor soil and ground that waterlogs. Loosen compacted soil before planting and mulch 50mm deep, kept out of the crowns.

Water. Twice a week through the first summer to get roots down. After that it lives on rainfall in most districts, with a deep soak in a long dry spell.

Feeding. One application of slow release native fertiliser in early spring. Overfeeding produces soft floppy growth that loses the compact shape.

Maintenance. No regular pruning. Every second or third year, shear the clump to about 15cm in late winter to refresh it. Lightly perfumed yellow flower spikes appear in spring.

What to expect when it arrives

Lime Tuff is grown in tube, 140mm packs of ten, 175mm and 200mm packs of six, and 250mm packs of three. Tubes and 140mm plants are the value choice for a long edge: small on arrival, but they catch up inside a season. The 200mm and 250mm sizes look finished straight away.

Plants are packed upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect a fortnight of settling in, then fresh growth from the centre of the clump. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Lomandra care guide: varieties and cutting back
• Browse the full lomandra range
• Choosing edging plants for borders
• More plants safe around pets

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Fifty centimetres apart for a continuous edge or mass planting, about four plants per square metre. Closer than that wastes plants and makes the clumps compete instead of filling out.

How big does Lime Tuff actually get?

Around 40cm to 50cm high and 60cm wide, including flower spikes. It is lower and finer in the leaf than common Lomandra longifolia, so it holds a formal line better.

Will it grow in a cold southern garden?

Yes. It is frost hardy and suits cool temperate districts, unlike many of the subtropical strappy plants it gets compared with.