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Dianella tasmanica 'Silver Streak' (Silver Streak Flax Lily) - A 1 to 2 feet tall, variegated form of the Tasman Flax Lily that is grown for its bold white-striped gray-green leaves. The small flowers, which appear in mid spring, have pale violet sepals with white striped, green petals and are followed by attractive dark blue berries.
Best planted in light shade but will take full coastal sun and can take exposed windy locations in clay or sandy soils that are fairly well drained. Give regular to occasional water - often listed as drought tolerant but cannot withstand prolonged dry southern California summers without some irrigation. It is hardy to about 20-25 degrees F.
Dianella tasmanica was first collected in Tasmania in 1837 where it generally grows in moist wooded forests but it is also found along the coast of New South Wales. It was described by the English botanist Joseph Hooker in 1858. The genus is named after Diana, the Roman goddess, of hunting and Queen of the woods and the specific epithet references the first collection of this plant in Tasmania. This plant also has the common name Flax Lily and Blue Berry Flax Lily. These common names come from the durable leaves that can be woven for basketry and other purposes.
Dianella tasmanica 'Silver Streak' is sometimes listed as having hybrid origins or being a selection of D. tasmanica, D. caerulea and even D. ensifolia but it looks to us to be very similar to the white striped variety usually called Dianella tasmanica 'Variegata'. In the limited time we grew these two plants side by side Silver Streak seems to be very similar if not identical to 'Variegata'. Both are great plants for a container or for brightening up an area. This plant marketed in the US by Ball Horticulture who supplied us with the images of this plant on our website. We grew it from 2009 to 2011.
The information about Dianella tasmanica 'Silver Streak' 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. |
