Managing erosion is a top priority for land managers, urban developers, and landscape specifiers alike. Whether it’s stabilising roadside batters, reinforcing swales, or protecting coastal and riparian edges, selecting the right plant species is crucial to long-term success. Among the most dependable options is Lomandra—a group of tough, clumping grasses native to Australia, with several improved cultivars now widely available in New Zealand.
Why Choose Lomandra?
Lomandra combines robust functionality with strong aesthetic appeal. These hardy, drought-tolerant, and frost-resilient plants are known for their strappy foliage, compact form, and deep, fibrous root systems that help bind the soil and prevent erosion from wind and water.
Recent research from Ozbreed Australia has highlighted the exceptional soil reinforcement properties of various Lomandra cultivars, quantifying their ability to increase soil shear strength—one of the most reliable indicators of erosion resistance. https://www.ozbreed.com.au/erosion-control-research/ Several of these top-performing varieties are available in New Zealand, making them ideal for both rural and urban applications.
High-Performing Lomandra Cultivars Available in NZ
Here are five standout cultivars, all trialled for erosion control and available through Ozbreed NZ:
Lomandra longifolia ‘KATRINUS DELUXE’ PVR
- Shear strength increase: 366%
- Key features: Dense foliage, abundant flowers and high aesthetic value. Excellent for large-scale planting on slopes and roadside verges.
- https://ozbreed.co.nz/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/katrinus-deluxe-lomandra/
Nyalla™ Lomandra longifolia ‘LM400’ PVR
- Shear strength increase: 328%
- Key features: Blue-grey foliage tones with a neat, upright habit. Ideal for coastal and wind-exposed sites due to its proven durability.
- https://ozbreed.co.nz/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/nyalla-lomandra/
Tanika™ Lomandra longifolia ‘LM300’ PVR
- Shear strength increase: 250%
- Key features: Fine, soft green leaves and a tidy clumping form. Versatile in urban landscapes, from parks to streetscapes. Ozbreed’s most popular plant ever.
- https://ozbreed.co.nz/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/tanika-lomandra/
Shara™ Lomandra longifolia subsp. exilis ‘ABU7’ PVR
- Shear strength increase: 225%
- Key features: Suited to moist areas and biofiltration zones. Shara™ is also phytophthora resistant, offering reliability in high-risk zones with root rot diseases.
- https://ozbreed.co.nz/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/shara-lomandra/
Evergreen Baby™ Lomandra longifolia subsp. exilis ‘LM600’ PVR
- Shear strength increase: 210%
- Key features: A smaller-form Lomandra ideal for tight spaces and commercial landscapes. Low-growing but tough and effective.
- https://ozbreed.co.nz/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/evergreen-baby-lomandra/
Best Practice in Erosion Control Planting
When specifying Lomandra for erosion control:
- Space plants correctly: Close spacing encourages canopy closure, protecting soil from raindrop impact and suppressing weeds. Close enough for the roots to work synergistically, with enough space to avoid resource competition.
- Plant into stabilised soil: Use jute matting or coir logs on steeper slopes to reduce surface runoff while plants establish. Slowing the flow of water using contour swales on slopes can help reduce erosion in short and long term.
- Avoid overwatering: Once established, most Lomandra species are extremely drought-hardy and should not require supplemental irrigation. Some varieties are more susceptible to root rot than others.
Final Thoughts
Erosion control doesn’t need to come at the cost of beauty or biodiversity. Lomandra cultivars offer a refined, functional solution to some of the most pressing challenges in landscape management. With proven performance and excellent availability in New Zealand, these resilient plants deserve a place in any erosion control palette.
So the question is: Which Lomandra will best suit your next project’s slope, swale, or streetscape?