Lomandra longifolia Breeze ['LM300'] (Dwarf Mat Rush) - An evergreen perennial with narrow deep green strap-shaped leaves that are curiously cut as though with pinking shears at the tips. Growing smaller than the typical species, this cultivar reaches to 24 to 40 inches tall and spreads to about the same. Its medium green, thick, strap-like leaves are accented by spiny flower spikes with tiny creamy yellow male flowers.
Plant in full sun to moderate shade. This is a drought tolerant plant once established, particularly when grown in some shade along the coast, but can also tolerate regular irrigation or even wet soils. Hardy to below 20° F - plants were undamaged in a landscape north of Atlanta, Ga. after a temperature was recorded of 16° F and there are reports of it surviving in an Alabama garden down to 14° F. A nice grass-like plant for mass plantings and particularly useful in difficult situations, including the Eucalyptus understory and is tolerant of a wide range of conditions and requires little to no maintenance once established.
The size variation seen in Lomandra longifolia cultivars is often a function of climate and irrigation practices with ample water and the cooler coastal environments producing larger plants while withholding irrigation or in situations where plants are competing in the understory of trees, plants are often on the smaller scale. It also performed moderately well in irrigation tests conducted by the breeder using saline water and can be used in seaside plantings and sites irrigated with reclaimed water. This plant comes from Australian plant breeder Todd Layt who selected this plant in 1998 as a vegetative sport from within a block of Lomandra longifolia 'Katrinus' that was growing in a nursery in New South Wales, Australia. It was selected for its deep green color and finer texture, a result of having narrower leaf width than most Lomandra longifolia selections. It was first released in Australia in March 2002 and registered under Plant Breeders Rights in Australia and New Zealand as Lomandra longifolia 'LM300' but was marketed under the name Lomandra longifolia 'Tanika'. The plant was introduced in the United States by VersaScapes of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina using the marketing name Lomandra Breeze and held U.S. Plant Patent 15,420 that was applied for on March 28, 2003 that has now expired.
The name Lomandra comes from the Greek words 'loma' meaning "margin" and 'andros' meaning "male" and is in reference to a circular margin on the anthers. The specific epithet 'longifolia' means "long leaves". The genus Lomandra has long been placed with the Australian Grass Trees in the Xanthorrhoaceae or related Dasypogonaceae and more in its own family, the Lomandraceae, or combined with the Cordyline into the Laxmanniaceae, but current treatment is to put it in the subfamily Lomandroideae in the Asparagaceae. We have grown this attractive and durable plant at our nursery since 2004 and have a mature mass planting that was planted that same year.
The information about Lomandra longifolia Breeze ['LM300'] displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |