One might wonder, is Dianella a grass? Despite its slender, grass-like leaves, Dianella is not a grass. Below, we’ll uncover where Dianella fits in the plant world, and some of the toughest varieties that just about anyone can keep alone.
Little Jess™ Dianella caerulea ‘DCMP01’. http://ozbreed.co.nz/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/little-jess-dianella/
Blaze™ Dianella tasmanica ‘NPW2’. http://ozbreed.co.nz/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/blaze-dianella/
What is Dianella?
Dianella, sometimes called “flax lily,” is a group of perennial plants native to Australia. These hardy plants are beloved for their ability to withstand harsh conditions and their striking foliage, which often resembles clumps of long, arching grass. However, that’s where the similarity to grass ends.
Unlike grasses, which belong to the Poaceae family, Dianella belongs to the Asphodelaceae family. This means Dianella is more closely related to plants like Aloe and Phormium than to grasses.
Emerald Arch™ Dianella tasmanica ‘DT23’. http://ozbreed.co.nz/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/emerald-arch-dianella/
Little Rev™ Dianella revoluta ‘DR5000’ PVR. http://ozbreed.co.nz/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/little-rev-dianella/
How is Dianella Different from Grass?
Although its appearance may fool you at first, Dianella has several key differences that set it apart from true grasses.
- Family Group: True grasses belong to the Poaceae family, while Dianella is a member of the Asphodelaceae family.
- Flowers: Dianella produces small, star-shaped flowers in shades of blue and purple, often followed by decorative berries. Grasses, on the other hand, usually produce flowers in spikelets that lack petals and sepals.
- Fruits: Dianellas produce berries, while grasses produce grains.
- Growth Style: Dianella grows as a rosette of strappy leaves from a basal clump of rhizomes. Grasses, on the other hand, grow with stems that have distinctive knobby knees (nodes).
True grasses have knobby knees (nodes) and leaves that are sheathed around the stem. Grass species come in different shapes and sizes, but they all have the knobby knees and leaf sheaths. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Digitaria_eriantha_node3_NWS_-_Flickr_-_Macleay_Grass_Man.jpg
Why is Dianella Often Mistaken for Grass?
The main reason Dianella is frequently thought to be a grass is its long, strappy leaves and clumping growth habit. Dianella is also often planted alongside grasses, which reinforces this misconception.
However, once you take a closer look at its stems (rhizomes), flowers and berries, the differences become clear.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, Dianella may have the look of a grass, but it belongs to the Asphodelaceae family. Does that stop most people from calling it a grass? No.
I’ve noticed many industry folk refer to all strappy-leafed plants as ‘grasses’ even though they understand the distinction. If you’d like to continue calling them grasses, you wouldn’t be alone. However, might I invite you to start using the term ‘strappies’ instead.