Savanna Blue™ Lomandra

Savanna Blue Lomandra (Lomandra filiformis 'LMF500') is the small blue lomandra for borders and groundcover where a standard tussock is too big. It grows to just 300mm high and 300mm wide, with fine blue grey foliage that sets off green shrubs and dark mulch, and Ozbreed selected it because it outperformed other blue leafed small lomandras, particularly through wet seasons. Plant it in drifts and it asks almost nothing of you.

Why you'll love it

• Blue foliage that stays blue. The fine leaves hold a silvery blue colour year round, which contrasts cleanly with green plantings and grey paving in modern gardens.
• Genuinely small. At 300mm in both directions it fits a narrow bed beside a path or driveway and never crowds the edge.
• Drought and frost tolerant. Established plants live on rainfall in all but extreme drought and take frost without marking.
• Better in the wet than its rivals. Blue leafed lomandras have a reputation for sulking in wet soil; this one came through Ozbreed's trials better than the others.
• An Australian native. Lomandras are native to eastern Australia, and this one brings that fine, grassy bush texture down to a scale that suits a courtyard.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 25cm apart in a single row for a continuous low edge along paths, driveways and lawn margins. The fine foliage never flops onto the paving.

Groundcover and mass planting. Set plants 30 to 40cm apart in offset rows (six to twelve a square metre) and they knit into a blue carpet within two seasons, smothering most weeds beneath.

Small modern gardens. In a courtyard or a narrow front garden it reads as a soft blue texture against walls, pavers and rendered planters, and it never outgrows the space.

Growing Savanna Blue Lomandra in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the best colour and density; part shade is fine. Ozbreed recommends it for New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia, so it covers warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid or semi arid gardens. It is not listed for Queensland, where the humidity suits other lomandras better.

Soil. It takes a wide range of soils, from sand to clay. In humid coastal regions such as Sydney, give it free draining soil or a raised bed, and keep the crown at or above the soil and mulch line.

Water and feed. Water as required for the first 8 to 13 weeks, then only in extreme drought. Mulch with a chunky mulch that does not pack around the crown. A slow release fertiliser in spring is optional.

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

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Savanna Blue Lomandra in 140mm pots in packs of 10, the right unit for a run of edging or a block of groundcover. The fine, flexible foliage travels well, and plants settle in within a few weeks in warm soil. Expect the clumps to fill out over the first two seasons.

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 groundcover plants for low maintenance beds
• Our lomandra care guide

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

25cm apart in a single row for a border, 30 to 40cm apart in blocks for groundcover. Closer spacing closes the gaps faster but does not change the finished height.

Does it need cutting back?

Not often. Trim brown leaves as you see them and cut the whole clump back by half every three years or so in late winter.

Will it grow in Queensland?

Ozbreed does not list it for Queensland. For a blue leafed tussock in a humid subtropical garden, look at the other lomandras in our range instead.