Dianella caerulea

Common Name:
Paroo Lily

Description:
Dianella caerulea, commonly known as Paroo Lily, is a hardy, clumping Australian native plant valued for its strappy green foliage, vibrant blue to purple star-shaped flowers, and attractive blue berries. This perennial grass-like plant thrives in a wide range of conditions, making it a reliable and low-maintenance choice for Melbourne gardens. Flowering mainly in spring and early summer, Paroo Lily’s blooms sit gracefully on upright stems above the foliage, followed by ornamental fruits that attract birds and add seasonal interest. It is ideal for mass planting, understorey use, borders, and erosion control. Dianella caerulea tolerates full sun to part shade, and adapts well to both dry and moist soils, as long as drainage is adequate. Once established, it is drought and frost tolerant. This variety is also suitable for coastal gardens and is often used in both native and formal landscape designs for its structure, resilience, and year-round greenery.

Form:
Shrub - Clumping / Grass-like / Mounding
Ground Cover

Mature Size:
Height: 40–70 cm
Width: 40–60 cm

Aspect:
Full Sun
Part Shade
Full Shade

Flowering:
Flowers in Spring
Flowers in Summer

Flower Colour:
Blue
Purple
Yellow Stamens

Key Attributes:
Suitable for Pots
Australian Native
Bird Attracting
Drought Tolerant
Frost Tolerant
Coastal Tolerant
Low Maintenance
Evergreen
Suitable for Mass Planting
Edible Fruit (when fully ripe – sweet and mildly tangy)
Erosion Control
Suitable for Understorey Planting

Toxicity:
Non-toxic to humans and pets
Ripe berries are edible, though best eaten in small quantities

Companion Plants:
Lomandra longifolia ‘Tanika’
Grevillea ‘Lady O’
Correa ‘Dusky Bells’
Westringia ‘Zena’
Poa labillardierei