Lomandra, dianella, wild iris and agapanthus: plants that fill a bed, handle heat and frost, and need a haircut once a year.
Planted in drifts of five or more, they cover ground fast and keep weeds down once mulched.
Most of these need little extra water once established, and the native lomandras and dianellas need almost none.
A tidy-up with shears in August is most of the maintenance. Lomandras can be cut low to refresh them.
Lomandra is one of the plants we stock most. Dianella, wild iris and agapanthus are regulars too.
Lomandra50 to 60 cm
Lomandra longifolia 'LM300'
Fine, soft leaves on a compact clump. Handles full sun, shade, frost, drought and heavy soil. Our most reordered strappy plant.
LomandraAbout 1 m
Lomandra longifolia
Blue-green leaves on a fuller, taller plant. Good for mass planting on banks and along driveways.
Lomandra50 to 70 cm
Lomandra fluviatilis 'ABU7'
A compact, blue-grey lomandra with fine leaves. Neat enough for a front border.
LomandraAbout 60 cm
Lomandra hybrid
Bright lime-green leaves that light up a bed of grey plants or dark mulch.
Lomandra60 to 80 cm
Lomandra hybrid
Steel-blue foliage on a tidy, upright clump.
Flax lily40 to 60 cm
Dianella caerulea 'DBB03'
Blue-grey strappy leaves, blue flowers in spring and berries after. Copes with dry shade under trees.
Flax lily40 to 60 cm
Dianella hybrid
Upright blue foliage that stays neat. A good alternative to lomandra if you want more colour in the leaf.
Wild irisAbout 1 m
Dietes grandiflora
White iris-like flowers marked with yellow and mauve, on and off from spring to autumn. Close to indestructible.
Wild iris60 to 80 cm
Dietes iridioides
Leaves striped in white and green with white iris flowers. Brightens up a shady corner.
Agapanthus40 to 60 cm
Agapanthus hybrids
We bring in 'Sugar Plum', 'Bingo Blue', 'Queen Mum', 'Black Pantha' and 'Purple Cloud'. Summer flowers in blue, white and purple. Cut the spent flower heads off before they set seed.
Society garlic30 to 50 cm
Tulbaghia violacea
Grey-green leaves and lilac flowers for months over the warm season. Takes heat and dry soil in its stride. A variegated form is also available.
Liriope30 to 50 cm
Liriope muscari
Dark green grassy leaves and purple flower spikes in late summer. Best in part shade, and a good low border along a shady path.
Mondo grass10 to 15 cm
Ophiopogon japonicus
A dark green carpet between pavers or under trees, where lawn won't grow.
Morning iris40 to 60 cm
Orthrosanthus multiflorus
A Western Australian native with grassy leaves and sky-blue flowers in spring. Likes good drainage.
Tussock grassAbout 1 m
Poa labillardieri
A blue-green native grass that moves in the wind. Use it in drifts in a natural-style garden.
Lomandra 'Tanika', dianella and wild iris are some of the most forgiving plants we sell. If they struggle, the soil probably needs more help. Bring in a sample and we'll take a look.
Tell us the size and we'll help you work out numbers and spacing, and which strappy plants suit sun, shade or salty soil.