Dianella prunina Rainbow Twist ['DPV308'] PP21,281 - (Rainbow Twist Flax Lily) - A medium-sized rhizomatous flax lily that grows to 18 inches tall with very attractive blue-green leaves with a contrasting reddish-purple edge that bleeds into a narrow cream margin which surrounds the center of the leaf. The leaf also twists to expose both sides of the leaf from any angle. Though we have not seen this plant flower, it likely will be similar to its parent with tall stems of blue-violet, yellow-anthered flowers rising to nearly 2 feet above the foliage.
Plant in full sun to light shade. Tolerates regular garden irrigation to dry conditions and can go extended periods without irrigation but does not do well in overly wet heavy soils. The parent reported hardy in England to 11 F. Plants should be slightly elevated to prevent crown becoming buried.
Dianella prunina has a native range throughout the sandstone areas of the Sydney Basin. The genus is named after Diana, the Roman goddess, of hunting and Queen of the woods and the specific epithet is from Latin meaning "plum" or "plum_colored", presumably a reference to the purplish tinge of the foliage or the perhaps the color of the berries. Its typical form is very large, but this selection is more compact and bushier.
Rainbow Twist was a spontaneous variegated mutation of the non-variegated Dianella prunina Utopia ['DP303'] that was selected by Greg Lowe in Tumbi Umbi, NSW in 2006. It compares otherwise in all respects nearly identically to the parent plant with the exception that the leaves are variegated and on average slightly narrower (15.4 mm compared to 17.5 mm for Utopia). It's application for Plant Breeders Rights in Australia was accepted on August 6, 2008 and it received US Plant Patent PP21,281 the plant was marketed in the US by Ozbreed. We sold this plant for one year in 2010. Image courtesy of Ozbreed.
The information about Dianella prunina Rainbow Twist ['DPV308'] PP21,281 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. |