Little Jess™ Dianella

Little Jess Dianella (Dianella caerulea 'DCMP01') is the dwarf flax lily that stays put. It grows to about 40cm high and 40cm wide on very short compact canes, so the clump never flops open the way taller dianellas do, and it carries masses of purple flowers from September to November followed by small blue berries. Bred by Ozbreed and planted commercially for close to a decade, it is also the most drought tolerant Dianella caerulea form they have released.

Why you'll love it

• Stays compact. The short canes hold the clump upright and tight at 40cm, so a mass planting keeps its even surface for years.
• Purple spring flowers. Starry purple flowers on fine stems from September to November, then small blue berries that catch the light.
• Very drought tolerant. More so than other Dianella caerulea forms, including Breeze, so it suits dry banks and unirrigated verges.
• Sun or heavy shade. It grows in full sun and in moderate to heavy shade, which lets one plant run from the open bed to under the trees.
• Almost no pruning. Roadside plantings go four to eight years between cuts. A garden looks best trimmed every two to three.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 35cm apart in offset rows, six to ten plants per square metre. The clumps meet within two seasons and need no edging after that.

Borders and edging. A single row at 20cm to 30cm spacing, three to five plants per metre, gives a neat low edge along a path or driveway.

Small gardens and courtyards. At 40cm each way it fits a narrow bed or a large pot without taking over.

Specimen clumps in shade. Three plants under a tree canopy, where little else flowers, is where the purple shows best.

Growing Little Jess Dianella in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to heavy shade. It tolerates drought, humidity and frost and is recommended for New South Wales, the ACT, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, which covers everything from the tropics to cool temperate gardens.

Soil. A wide variety of soils suit it, but avoid very poor ground. Plant with the crown at soil level, never buried under soil or mulch, and mulch around it with a chunky mulch.

Water and feed. Water as required for the first 8 to 13 weeks until established, then leave it to the weather. A slow release fertiliser in spring is optional.

Pruning. Every two to eight years, cut the clump back by half its height in late winter. Gardens look best on a two to three year cycle; a roadside can go four to eight.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Little Jess Dianella as tube stock and in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Tubes are the economical choice for a large mass planting and establish quickly in warm soil; the 140mm packs give a finished edge straight away. Plants travel upright and push new leaves within weeks in the warmer half of the year. Expect the first flowers the following spring.

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 every Ozbreed plant we stock
• More plants for mass planting

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Plant 35cm apart for a dense mass planting, or 20cm to 30cm apart in a single row for an edge. Give a specimen clump 50cm all round.

Will the canes flop over like my old dianella?

No. Little Jess was selected for very short canes that hold the clump upright, which is the main reason it replaced older forms in commercial plantings.

Does it need much water?

Only while establishing. It is more drought tolerant than other Dianella caerulea forms and copes on an unirrigated verge once its roots are down.