Laxmannia gracilis
slender wire lily
Overview
Laxmannia gracilis is a small, wiry perennial herb forming low tufts 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) tall, with slender flowering stems rising to 8-16 inches (20-40 cm). The leaves are narrow and grass-like, 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) long and less than 0.1 inch (1-2 mm) wide, green to grey-green, and grouped in small basal rosettes along short branching stems. Thread-like flowering stalks carry compact heads of small flowers at their tips. Each flower is about 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) across, white with a pink to reddish base, and has six tepals. Flowering occurs mainly in spring and early summer. Small capsules follow and release tiny seed. The plant grows in heath, dry sclerophyll forest, and grassland on sandy and gravelly soils in eastern Australia. It tolerates drought and poor soils but is short-lived and easily crowded out by taller, denser vegetation. The wiry growth is inconspicuous outside the flowering period.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, occurring in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. It grows in heath, dry open forest, and grassland on sandy and gravelly soils.Suggested Uses
Grown in native, heath, and rockery plantings on sandy soils within its range. It suits restoration of heath and grassy woodland communities. The small flowers draw native bees and other small insects.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 1'4"
Width/Spread4" - 8"
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs mainly in spring and early summer, from September to December in the native range. Compact heads of small white flowers open at the tips of thread-like stems over several weeks. Individual flowers are short-lived, opening in the cooler part of the day.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
White with pink baseFoliage Description
Green to grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Laxmannia gracilis in full sun to light shade in sharply drained sandy or gravelly soil with a pH of 5.0-6.5. It tolerates drought and low-nutrient ground and grows in open, uncrowded sites. Constant moisture and rich soil cause it to rot or be overgrown by stronger plants. It is short-lived and relies on seed to maintain a population. The plant is grown mainly in native and habitat gardens rather than general borders.Pruning
No routine pruning is needed for this small tufted plant. Spent flower stems can be left to set and drop seed for self-sowing. Clearing taller competing growth around the tufts keeps the open conditions it needs.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons