Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

dianella little red

Are you searching for a colourful, hardy, and low-maintenance plant for your New Zealand garden? Dianella little red could be exactly what you need. Renowned for its compact form and attractive reddish-bronze foliage, dianella little red is an eye-catching flax lily that thrives in a variety of environments. Whether you’re looking to brighten up a shady corner, edge a pathway, or add textural interest to mixed plantings, dianella little red is a versatile choice that delivers year-round visual appeal. Plus, it’s drought-tolerant, wind-resistant, and incredibly easy to care for, making it a favourite among both landscape designers and home gardeners.

Dianella revoluta 'Little Rev' plants in a garden.

Dianella 'Little Rev'

Dianella 'Little Rev' is a compact, clump-forming evergreen known for its striking blue-grey foliage and architectural form. This Blue Flax-Lily grows to around 40 cm in height and width, and is perfect for borders, mass planting, or modern landscape designs. In spring and summer, it produces small blue flowers followed by decorative berries. 'Little Rev' thrives in full sun to part shade and tolerates dry conditions once established. Hardy and low maintenance, it's ideal for adding texture and colour to NZ gardens.

Buy Dianella 'Little Rev'

From $20.18

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Flaxes

Height: 60 cm

Spread: 40 cm

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wind

Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Ponds, Pool areas

Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Riparian

Dianella 'Revelation'

Dianella 'Revelation' features flower stems that rise above the foliage through spring and summer to bear masses of delicate, blue flowers, which result in blue berries. This NZ Flax Lily features narrow, grass-like foliage that is dark green and held densely, growing to 60 cm tall and the same width. Dianella 'Revelation' is commonly mass-planted either as a groundcover or on a bank, included in borders or mixed plantings, planted around the base of large trees, grown around water features such as streams and ponds, or featured in cottage gardens.

Buy Dianella 'Revelation'

From $16.13

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Flaxes

Height: 60 cm

Spread: 60 cm

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy

Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Ponds, Pool areas

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Modern

Why Choose Dianella Little Red?

Dianella little red stands out for its unique leaf colour, forming neat clumps of strappy foliage with a gorgeous bronze-red hue. This evergreen perennial is ideal for adding colour contrast to your garden without overwhelming more delicate plants. Its small stature—growing to around 40–50cm high—makes dianella little red perfect for mass planting, borders, or even pots on your deck or patio. Unlike some other ornamental grasses, it won’t spread invasively, so you can count on it to stay tidy and manageable.

Growing Conditions and Care

One of the reasons dianella little red is so popular in New Zealand gardens is its adaptability. It thrives in full sun to part shade, tolerates coastal conditions, and copes well with dry periods once established. Dianella little red prefers well-drained soil and benefits from a layer of mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Watering is necessary during extended dry spells, but otherwise, it’s a set-and-forget plant. If you want to rejuvenate its appearance, simply trim back old foliage in early spring.

Ideal Garden Uses for Dianella Little Red

Dianella little red is perfect for landscaping projects where colour and texture are key. Try using it as a border along paths or driveways where its rich foliage can frame your outdoor space. Its neat growth habit also makes it a favourite for mass planting in modern, low-maintenance gardens. If you’re designing a native planting scheme, pair dianella little red with other flax lilies, flowering natives, or small shrubs for layered interest and a resilient, wildlife-friendly garden.

Explore Other Dianella Varieties

If you’re looking to broaden your garden palette, consider exploring related varieties. For a cooler blue-grey effect, Dianella 'Little Rev' offers structural, upright foliage. Dianella 'Revelation' is another striking choice, with broad, steel-blue leaves. For those craving striking fruit, Dianella nigra (New Zealand Blueberry) produces eye-catching purplish berries that attract birds. For graceful, arching growth, consider Dianella Goddess, or enjoy the lush texture of Dianella 'Margaret Pringle'.

Add Colour and Resilience to Your Garden

With its unique colour and hardiness, dianella little red is an outstanding choice for Kiwi gardeners wanting lasting beauty with minimal effort. Whether you’re updating your existing garden or planning a brand-new landscape, this compact flax lily brings structure, contrast, and seasonal interest. Pair it with your favourite dianella varieties for a diverse, resilient, and beautiful landscape all year round.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.