Dianella tasmanica is a strappy herbaceous plant which grows to 0.5–2 metres (1–7 ft) high and wide, with a thick spreading rhizome under the ground. The green linear keeled leaves have finely toothed margins, and may reach 1 m (40 in) in length and 1.5–4 cm wide. The small (1.5 cm diameter) blue flowers bloom in spring and summer (August to February), and are followed by small roughly oval or globular violet berries which range from about 1.2 cm (0.5 in) in diameter.
Grow flax lily in full shade if you live in a region with very hot, dry summers and in partial shade if you landscape in an area with milder summers.
Feed flax lily in spring (prior to the appearance of new growth) with the same kind of fertilizer (suited to acid-loving plants) that you would use for azaleas.
The entire lily plant is toxic: the stem, leaves, flowers, pollen, and even the water in a vase. Eating just a small amount of a leaf or flower petal, licking a few pollen grains off its fur while grooming, or drinking the water from the vase can cause your cat to develop fatal kidney failure in less than 3 days.
