Dianella Blue Ripple

Dianella 'Blue Ripple' is an architectural and on-trend Australian perennial, related to phormiums but much more compact. It forms a vertical tuft of evergreen, green-grey-blue leaves with beautiful miniature, purplish blue lily-flowers in early summer, followed by small berries of the same colour. It is a delightful specimen in mild gardens and will well wonders in a contemporary, urban, or terrace setting. Its is not difficult to grow but heavy, permanently wet and/or limestone soils must be avoided.  

Dianella are relatively unknown, rhizomatous perennials in the Phormiaceae family, just like their cousins the Phormiums. Native to the southern hemisphere, they have a cold resistance similar to that of their cousins. Dianella revoluta is native to the sparsely forested areas of a vast zone along the entire south coast of Australia. It is an adaptable and robust species, but it only thrives on non-limestone soil, i.e. peaty, sandy, humiferous or schistose. Its hardiness is around -7°C (19.4°F) at the lowest when mature, for a short duration and in very well-drained soil. It is very long-lasting and capable of forming large colonies where it is happy and is perfectly resistant to dry summers.

'Blue Ripple' is a cultivar discovered in 1996 in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia. It distinguishes itself from the wild species by its beautiful bluish colour and its small size, well-suited to the size of our gardens and pot culture. From underground rhizomes, it forms tufts not exceeding 40 cm (16in) high for the foliage, slowly spreading over at least 50 cm (20in) on the ground. The long leaves are tough, linear, smooth and erect with rolled edges. They are a very soft, light green on the upper surface, but intermediate between green, grey, and blue on the lower surface, which is more visible. Flowering takes place from May to July when stiff floral stems rise from the foliage to 1m (3ft) above the ground, bearing panicles branched several times. The flowers open one after the other, over a long period. Each  1.5 to 2 cm (1in) diameter flower, consists of 6 reflexed, purplish petals surrounding 6 golden yellow stamens. After being pollinated by insects, it produces small round, 0.5 to 1 cm (0in) diameter, purplish-blue fruits containing 3 to 4 seeds. The fruits remain decorative on the plant for a long time.

The 'Blue Ripple' Dianella will not disappoint as long as it benefits from mild winter temperatures and has an acidic, not too rich, and properly drained substrate. In a contemporary-style garden, it can be planted en masse along a pathway, even in partial shade. In a more exotic setting, it will accompany agapanthus, Anigozanthos, bulbines, Tulbaghia, Carex comans Bronze... It is a beautiful plant to adorn the terrace or balcony, in pretty containers with modern lines that can be placed in strategic locations.