Lomandra longifolia White Sands

Lomandra White Sands is a brand new form of a beautiful Australian perennial with the appearance of a grass, with variegated foliage. A graphic perennial plant, which is very bright and also very undemanding, it will easily acclimatize to gardens in a mild climate, even during a very dry in summer. It has a long flowering period, from April to October, and produces small yellow flowers in dense spikes, which are subtle but nectar-rich and fragrant. Magnificent in large borders, in a contemporary or natural garden, it will also be a centrepiece when planted in a large pot on the terrace during the warmer seasons in colder regions.

Lomandra longifolia belongs to the Lomandraceae family. Native to the Australian east coast, it is a species that varies in appearance and can be found in diverse habitats, from sandy heathlands to rocky slopes. It is a rhizomatous perennial plant with shallow but spreading roots, widely used in its country to stabilize soils and vegetate road edges. Its vegetation persists in winter. It can tolerate temperatures down to -7°C (19.4 °F) in well-draining soil. If the foliage is destroyed below this temperature, the plant is capable of regrowing from the stump if well protected, down to -10°C (14 °F).

'White Sands' has long, relatively thin leaves, about 5 mm (0.2 in) wide, tough, with dentate margins, pointed at their tips, and variegated with white-cream on a green-grey-blue background. This variety forms a wide non-spreading clump. It has an upright and arching habit, reaching about 60 cm (23.6 in) in all directions. Floral stems emerge from the foliage from April to October, depending on the climate. They bear spikes of small light yellow flowers, quite discreet but with a pleasant honey fragrance, followed by the formation of small fruit on female plants.

Lomandra White Sands is a plant of great ornamental value, suitable for large scale planting or rock gardens. Whether used as a specimen or planted in groups, it structures the space and gives a clean style to the garden. In colder regions, it will thrive in a large pot on the patio or balcony, so you can admire during the warmer season and protect it from severe frost in winter. In an urban garden, it softens concrete structures. For an exotic look, it can be associated, for example, with  Helichrysum rosmarinifolium 'Silver Jubilee',  Pittosporum tenuifolium Tom Thumb, or Olearia macrodonta 'Major', plants that are perfect for coastal areas, just like this Lomandra. Like tall grasses, it is also a wonderful perennial for a modern garden with clean lines.  This Lomandra White Sands can create a beautiful trio of plants when mixed with a clump of Muhlenbergia capillaris, a true pink cloud at the end of summer, and Eragrostis trichodes, resembling a golden mist in autumn,