Flax Lily: Since when did tiny blue flowers cause such a big fuss?

Flax Lily is that ubiquitous plant you see driving through almost any Sarasota neighborhood, its bright variegated leaves beckoning you to stop for a closer look. But be prepared if you do. Upon further inspection, you’ll be met with (gasp!) the ugly truth. Its tiny blue blossoms are wilted or just plain dead, ruining the otherwise captivating charm of this grass-like lily. Some homeowners obviously don’t mind because they use it as a groundcover in their landscapes. (Flax Lily is prized as a foliage plant, not a bloomer.) But for others, it’s a heated debate waiting to happen. ArtisTree Plantopinions experts step in to provide a voice of reason.

Joe Mantkowski, ArtisTree VP Landscape Design:

I’ve used Flax Lily with success, plus it’s on the approved list of several local communities. But to be honest, I don’t really like the little blue flowers because they eventually get messy looking. You can cut them off as they turn brown, but if you’re installing several as a mass groundcover, you may not want to deal with it. Still, the variegation is nice — it’s a true white and green that really pops. The important thing is to plant them elevated so they get good drainage. Otherwise, they’re likely to get root rot. You also have to watch for rust issues which are treatable. But overall, Flax Lily is very easy to grow.

Clinton Lak, ArtisTree Landscape Designer:

I like Flax Lily best when used as a “groundcover shrub” against dark-green hedge plants. I’ve also used it as a stand-alone grouping under a canopy tree because they’re a nice intermediate size. Flax lilies are known for their striking foliage color and inconspicuous blue blooms, and are one of the few plants that require very little pruning (unless you want to pinch off the dead flowers which is a matter of personal preference). While they’re drought and salt tolerant, they don’t tolerate a freeze well and are susceptible to a bacterial fungus that produces rust-colored blotches on the leaves.

Chris Culp, ArtisTree Landscape Designer:

I love variegated Flax Lily, but some homeowners don’t because it has weedy plant blooms. The little blue flowers look nice when they first pop out, but after they’re spent, they have somewhat of an unkempt appearance. For me, that’s no problem. You just cut off the dead blooms. Easy peasy. I’ve planted Flax Lily under pygmy palms and magnolia trees where they get nice filtered light, but they also do well in sun. They grow in clumps but are not invasive.

Brian Clouser, ArtisTree Landscape Designer:

I like Flax Lily but the flower stalks are an issue if you want a perfect clean plant. The foliage color is great and it offers a nice difference of texture. To look its best, Flax Lily does need some hand pruning and trimming. If you notice lots of dead leaves on your established plants, you can deadhead them in the winter by cutting them to the ground.

Elisabeth Owen, ArtisTree Landscape Designer:

I’m not a fan of Flax Lily so I don’t use it. It’s good for cooler areas and relatively easy-care. It’s the better alternative to Aztec Grass, which is no longer used due to crown rot issues. Flax Lily gets large but trimming it back is pretty easy. It’s also relatively forgiving in terms of sun and shade. I think this plant performs best in filtered light, or when it receives some shade in the afternoon. It should be hand pruned for best maintenance, and that’s something that most homeowners don’t want to hear (especially those living in “maintenance free” neighborhoods). It’s important not to place it too close to walkways as it does clump and gets large. I think Liriope Grass and Emerald Blanket Carissa are the best groundcovers to use, and I prefer variegated low shrubbery if a variegated option is needed. One issue regarding Flax Lily is rust — a disease that discolors the foliage and is not always easy to treat.

Conan Michel, ArtisTree Landscape Operations Manager:

I like Flax Lily (Dianella tasmanica) and agree it makes a nice groundcover. But I think it works better as an accent or border plant when you need to add small areas of bright color and texture to your landscape. The blue flowers are followed by berries that attract bees and butterflies, and once they ripen and turn brown, the stamens that are left can be a little unattractive. But that’s just the plant doing what it’s going to do. Doesn’t bother me a bit. If it bothers you, just cut them off.

ArtisTree “Plantopinions” is a roundtable debate between ArtisTree experts on the virtues of various plant specimens. Sometimes there’s consensus and sometimes not. In the end, you are the judge.

Contact ArtisTree Landscape 941.488.8897

To get your landscape renovation started now, browse ArtisTree’s portfolio and then call Jenni Lassen at 941.488.8897, ext. 312, to meet with one of our award-winning designers. We proudly serve Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and South Hillsborough counties.

ArtisTree also provides complete landscape maintenance services for HOA communities throughout Southwest Florida. Contact Michael Casper at 941.488.8897, ext. 321, for your custom proposal.  

Category News, Groundcovers