The ‘Lomandra Platinum Beauty’ (Lomandra longifolia ‘Roma 13’) is a resilient, grass-like perennial prized for its striking ornamental foliage. This plant forms a dense, clumping mound of arching, blue-green leaves accented by creamy white edges, providing year-round texture and color. While low-maintenance, proper pruning is occasionally necessary to ensure its vibrant, fountain-like appearance. This guide details the techniques required to maintain the health and aesthetic quality of this variety.
Why Pruning is Necessary
The primary reason for pruning ‘Platinum Beauty’ is to remove old and spent foliage that accumulates within the dense clump over time. Individual leaf blades will naturally yellow or dry out, detracting from the plant’s signature variegated look. Removing this dead material improves air circulation deep within the plant, helping prevent pest or disease issues. This maintenance also redirects the plant’s energy toward producing a fresh flush of brighter, newer leaves.
The long, strap-like leaves of Lomandra can become congested or floppy after several years of growth. Rejuvenation pruning is an effective way to reset the plant’s structure and encourage a tighter, more compact growth habit. This hard cut removes the bulk of the older foliage, stimulating a vigorous burst of new growth from the base to restore the plant’s appealing, upright shape.
Optimal Timing and Required Tools
The best time for a significant rejuvenation cut is in late winter or early spring, just before the plant begins its active growth cycle. This timing allows the plant to recover quickly, ensuring new foliage emerges rapidly. While heavy pruning is reserved for this pre-spring window, minor maintenance pruning to remove unsightly leaves can be performed at any time of the year.
Tools should be sharp to ensure a clean, precise cut that minimizes stress and potential entry points for pathogens. For removing individual dead blades at the base, sharp bypass hand pruners are the ideal tool. When performing a full rejuvenation cut on a large clump, sharp hedge shears or a string trimmer can be used to make the process more efficient and achieve a uniform height reduction.
Step-by-Step Pruning Techniques
Pruning techniques for Lomandra fall into two main categories: selective maintenance and full rejuvenation. For simple maintenance, focus on isolating individual damaged or yellowed leaf blades. Trace these damaged leaves back to the base of the plant and snip them off as close to the crown as possible. This method keeps the clump looking neat and preserves the overall size and shape.
Rejuvenation pruning, or the hard cut, is performed when the plant has become overly large, congested, or damaged. Use shears or a trimmer to cut the entire clump back severely to a height of approximately 6 to 12 inches above the ground. This action removes the majority of the existing foliage, but the plant will quickly regrow from the crown. This results in a dense, refreshed mound of vibrant leaves.