Plant Profile – TANIKA is a drought tolerant Lomandra
Plant Profile – TANIKA Lomandra longifolia ‘LM300’PBR
‘Worldwide Landscape Plant’
Lomandra Tanika is one of those stand out landscape plants which come along once in a while and change the way we look at strappy leaf plants. Tanika would have to be one of the most widely used landscape plants here in Australia with its improved fine leaf compact foliage and superior drought tolerance. It is tough and beautiful.
Tanika has proven to be one of the most resilient and reliable landscape plants over the last few years. Its drought tolerance can not be understated; it can survive through drought conditions with only slight to moderate browning on the ends of the leaves but when the rain returns it has the ability to green up and look fresh again very quickly. The fine foliage tends to roll or curve during extended dry periods reducing the leaf surface area and the amount of water loss from the plant. Due to the finer leaf on Tanika this effect is hardly noticeable unlike some common forms of Lomandra which can be far more noticeable due to their wider leaf.
You could say Tanika has been the answer many Landscape architects and contractors have been looking for in a plant, providing them with a plant that is drought tolerant and evergreen in almost any situation including drought and frost. Tanika is great at out competing weeds. It naturally looks good once established with practically no care or maintenance and most importantly does not grow too tall. Domestically landscape designers, contractors and home gardeners were looking for a native plant with not only style but fantastic drought tolerance an abundance of yellow spring flowers and the ability to grow in full sun or part shade in almost any garden design, with very little maintenance. Tanika will grow to a height of approximately 60-65cm with a spread of 65cm.
The functional and aesthetic appeal of Tanika is also being recognized in worldwide landscapes. It has been used successfully on roadsides in Texas, California and South Carolina in the USA, around golf courses in Spain, roadsides and home gardens in London and closer to home in New Zealand Tanika is being used on many commercial and domestic landscape applications.
For most areas of Australia including VIC, TAS, SA, WA, ACT and Sydney Tanika is adaptable and versatile in most planting situations. However please note that if planting in more humid areas of Australia with wet summers like Queensland Tanika is not suited for general mass planting purposes; it is better used as a garden plant in well drained raised garden beds. Tanika will not perform in flat or depressed planting areas with poor drainage in Queensland or other humid areas of Australia.
Watch this video on Tanika
