Lucky Stripe™ Lomandra

Lucky Stripe Lomandra (Lomandra hystrix 'LMV200') is the variegated strappy leaf plant that does not let you down. It grows to about 80cm to 1m tall and 90cm wide, with arching green leaves striped cream along their length, and the foliage stays clean where most striped grasses spot and blotch. Bred by Ozbreed for mass planting, it performs from Cairns to Melbourne to Perth and takes wet ground as readily as dry.

Why you'll love it

• Clean variegation that lasts. Leaf spot ruins most striped strappy leaf plants within a season or two; this one generally stays spot free, even in humid climates.
• Wet or dry, it does not mind. It grows well in both wet and dry soils, from sandy loam to heavy clay, which makes it one of the few variegated plants you can put in a rain garden.
• It stays where you plant it. It rarely, if ever, sets viable seed, so no seedlings come up in the mulch or next door.
• Roots that hold a bank. The fibrous root system makes it a sound choice for erosion control on batters and roadside plantings.
• Safe around pets. Lomandras are not toxic to dogs or cats, so it suits family gardens.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 80cm apart in offset rows, between one and two plants per square metre. The tussocks knit together within two seasons, and the cream striping lightens a sweep of plain green lomandra.

Rain gardens and swales. It tolerates both waterlogging and drought, so it suits the depressions that fill in a storm and bake a month later, at one to two plants per linear metre.

Feature planting. A single clump beside a doorway gives a soft, pale fountain of foliage against dark walls or paving, with scented cream and yellow flower spikes in spring.

Slopes and green walls. It is specified for erosion control, roadside batters and green walls, where clean foliage matters because nobody will groom it.

Growing Lucky Stripe Lomandra in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. It takes light to moderate frost; in the coldest tableland gardens give it overhead shelter.

Soil. Sandy loam through to heavy clay, wet or dry. It is unusually forgiving of poor drainage for a variegated plant.

Water and feed. Water as needed for the first 8 to 13 weeks, then only in very dry spells. Mulch well, chunky bark for preference, and apply a slow release fertiliser in spring.

Pruning. None year to year. Every three to seven years cut the whole clump back to about 30cm above the ground and it reshoots fresh; every three years keeps it at its best, and a clump left longer looks tired.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Lucky Stripe Lomandra in 200mm pots in packs of 6. Each is a well rooted clump with the striping showing, so a pack looks finished from the first week. Lomandras travel well; a few bruised leaf tips on arrival are normal and are hidden by new growth within a month in warm weather.

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

• Browse the full lomandra range
• See the full Ozbreed range
• More plants for mass planting
• How to grow and care for lomandra

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Plant 80cm apart for a massed effect. Stretch to 1m where you want each clump to read on its own or where the budget is tight; the gap closes a season later.

Will the variegation fade?

No. The cream striping is a stable feature of the line, not a seasonal flush. It is strongest in full sun and softens a little in deep shade.

Can it go in a wet spot?

Yes. It grows well in wet soils and is listed for rain gardens and swales, provided the water drains away between storms rather than standing for weeks.