New strappy natives to focus on in 2025
By Daniel Fuller
As we move into a new year, five new strappy plants entering the Australian market are going to shake things up due to their outstanding performance and function. Designers should be aware of their existence for upcoming projects, and growers should be prepared to supply them for the industry.
Phytophthora, a root rot disease that decimates plants in heavy soils or with wet feet, is worsening in Australia. Insects like ants can spread the disease from one tiny infected boggy patch throughout the landscape.
Lady Tanika® Lomandra ‘LM360’ PBR is the perfect plant for mass planting in boggy patches, as it is tolerant of phytophthora and is female sterile, meaning it is not very attractive to insects. This plant falls under the Tanika® brand of Lomandra, and we are investing heavily in its marketing, so we expect it to be popular for nurseries supplying the landscape sector.
Another plant that is tolerant of phytophthora infected soils is Shara Blue™ Lomandra fluviatilis ‘LM380’ PBR. It is taller than the popular popular Shara™ Lomandra with bluer, cleaner foliage. This plant appeals to both retail and wholesale markets, being the closest we can get to a bulletproof plant without making it out of plastic.
Roadsides, public parks, and playgrounds have positions requiring a robust ground cover that can be walked or occasionally driven over. Baby Breeze™ Dianella ‘DCNC3’ PBR Intended fills this niche and can even be used as a low or no-mow planted lawn.
Queenslanders look on in envy at some of the Australian flax plants our southern friends are able to grow. Finally, we have a unique architectural shape suitable for Brisbane conditions with Summer Rev™ Dianella sp. ‘Dian04’ PBR Intended. It is much better in humidity and short-term wet weather than other varieties and grabs people’s attention on the retail shelf with its sword-like blue-toned foliage.
Grass trees are popular, but they can be expensive and struggle in heavy soils and wet feet. Grass Tree 310™ Lomandra ‘LM301’ PBR is the industry’s answer to this problem It is a mat rush with leaves that look like a young grass tree without the trunk. It is attractive to insects and is perfect for biodiversity landscapes which are becoming increasingly popular.
As well as five new strappy native plants to focus on in the coming year, I’d like to mention a variety that may be new to you, even though it isn’t new to the market. Revelation® Dianella revoluta ‘DRG04’ PBR is a top performer in the wet and can survive with natural rainfall. It is ideal for the upper parts of a rain garden or bio swale. It is the Dianella revoluta that just keeps on thriving, and we believe it is underrated.
As the luckiest among us have the opportunity to switch off over the Christmas and New Year period, the public continue to purchase plants for home gardens, and next year’s landscape projects always start the year with a rush. Consider specifying these native strappy plants in your next landscape design, or supplying them for the industry and public through your nursery.
Daniel Fuller & Ozbreed
M: 042 6169 708
E: horticulture@ozbreed.com.au
W: ozbreed.com.au