Patersonia glabrata
leafy purple flag
Overview
Patersonia glabrata is an evergreen, tufted perennial in the family Iridaceae, forming clumps 8-24 inches (20-60 cm) tall of narrow, flattened, sword-shaped leaves arising from a short woody rhizome. The leaves are dark green, 6-20 inches (15-50 cm) long and about 0.2 inch (5 mm) wide, with smooth margins. Violet to purple flowers about 1.5-2.5 inches (4-6 cm) across open from a pair of brown papery bracts at the tip of a stalk standing level with or above the leaves. Each flower has three broad spreading outer segments and three much smaller inner ones, and lasts only a single day, with new flowers opening in succession through spring and early summer. The flowers are followed by capsules holding numerous seeds. Growth is moderate, with clumps widening slowly by rhizome. The species grows in heath, dry sclerophyll forest, and woodland on sandy, well-drained soils. Individual blooms are short-lived, so the plant carries open flowers only on scattered days during the season.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Grows in heathland, dry sclerophyll forest, and open woodland on sandy and gravelly, well-drained soils, often in coastal and tableland districts.Suggested Uses
Planted in native and rockery gardens, heath plantings, and low borders at 10-16 inch (25-40 cm) spacing. Suited to sandy, free-draining sites and coastal gardens. Grows in containers of at least 5 gallons (19 L) with a gritty, low-phosphorus mix.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'
Width/Spread8" - 1'4"
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Flowers in spring and early summer (September to December in its native range), with each bloom lasting only one day and fresh flowers opening over several weeks. Flowering is heaviest in open, sunny positions and in the seasons after fire. Cool, shaded sites flower sparsely.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Violet to purpleFoliage Description
Dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 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
Water during establishment, then rely on rainfall, as the species tolerates dry periods once settled. Plants grow in full sun to light shade on sandy or gravelly, sharply drained soils and decline in heavy, wet ground. The roots are sensitive to phosphorus, so low-phosphorus native fertilisers are used where soils are poor. Clumps can be divided in spring, though plants re-establish slowly after disturbance. No serious pests or diseases affect the species. Old leaves can be removed as they brown to keep the tuft tidy.Pruning
Spent flowering stems and browned outer leaves can be removed through the season to keep the clump tidy. No structural pruning is needed. Plants tolerate a hard cut-back in late winter and reshoot from the rhizome.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons