In season now: Blue flax lily
Here they are! If you live in Sydney you have probably noticed the blue berries popping up along park trails and in street plantings.
It is undeniable that about 4-5 years ago the various contractors and bush regenerators started to plant the native Blue flax lily (Dianella carulea) everywhere. In parks, reserves, along the fence of children's playgrounds, in schools, in streets green areas, just under the trees. Indeed if you look around those areas in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, the low bright green sedge-looking plants are either Blue flax lily or Matrushes ( Lomandra spp. also native).
Why all of the sudden the change in plantings? My suspicion is that the nurseries found a way to propagate them cheaply by breaking the clump and replanting them, effectively cloning.
AND LUCKY US, as those blue berries bursting out of the bushes right now, are just delicious!
Have a look at the images below, easy to recognise, distinctive flowers and distinctive berries.
High competition with skinks and lizards (who also love them) and beware, the season is very short, you only got until the end of the year for them, about 4/5 weeks.
General warning about collecting from urban environs: if you do not know the spraying regime of the area you shouldn't be touching the bushes. If you do not know the history of the soil, you shouldn't be eating from the plants.
Also important, this is a native species, please treat with respect and do not damage the plant, as it is probably part of a bush regeneration site, and never over harvest.
Some berries taste better than others, as there is variability from plant to plant. Don't despair, when you find the sweet-berry-bearing-bush you'll know what I mean. Be nice to nature, say thank you for the gifts.
FURTHER WARNING! Please be careful not to confuse with the very similar-looking Dianella tasmanica which is said to be toxic. Dianella tasmanica is a common landscaping plant in Melbourne, it is a substantially bigger bush with wider and longer leaves and has bigger more tempting berries.
If you do not know which variatu is planted locally check with your council or bush regenation group as they will be able to tell you.
Name: Blue flax lily
Latin Name: Dianella caerulea
Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae
Description: A plant which keeps growing from year to year. It forms mats, growing to 1.5 m high and spreading to 1.5 m across. The stem is erect, the leaves are long and strap like. They can be 75 cm long with rough edges. The flowers are star shaped, blue and in loose clusters at the ends of branches. The fruit are shiny blue berries 7-12 mm long.
Notes: It adapts readily to cultivation and is commonly seen in Australian gardens and amenities plantings.
Edible Uses: Fruit – raw or cooked. The fruit is up to 1.5cm in diameter. Roots – The length of rhizomes are pounded and roasted.
Warnings: Please not that some cultivated varieties are not edible and reported as level 2 toxic. Please make sure you can confidently identify the plant.
Medicinal Uses: None Known
Other Uses: Basketry; Fibre.
Other Information: A very strong silky fibre is obtained from the leaves. The leaves are also used in making baskets.
Links: Plant for a Future