Grows well in full sun but also tolerates a moderately shaded site in heavy clay to sandy soils. It is very drought tolerant in coastal and non-desert inland valley areas yet can handle regular irrigation and even brief periods of inundation - great for a depressed area that may get seasonally very wet and then dry afterwards. Should prove hardy to around 15°F. This is reputed to be one of the best Dianella for windy and salt laden coastal conditions. This plant rarely needs grooming, going many years without attention but should it be required, the recommendation is to cut back foliage to 6 inches above the ground. Great for a specimen planting in the ground or in a container and great for a mass planting in the home or commercial garden both in full sun and as an understory to an open canopy tree planting. Compared to other Dianella caerulea cultivars Jo O'Connell of Australian Native Plant Nursery says "this one blooms later and lingers longer".

Dianella caerulea is a variable species found growing wild across the eastern states of Australia and Tasmania. The genus is named after Diana, the Roman goddess, of hunting and Queen of the woods and the specific epithet means "blued" or "blue-tinged" in reference to the flower color. The cultivar King Alfred was discovered in 2002 by Nuanong Chuawong at Castlereagh Nursery in Castlereagh, New South Wales 2749 Australia as the single seedling selection from a 10,000 seed batch of Dianella caerulea 'Sydney Ecotype'. It was selected for its good bluish leaf color, tall plant height, a red basal sheath zone and blue flowers that stand above the foliage. Unlike some other Dianella caerulea, this plant does not produce tall vegetative stems (canes) and the fans sit at ground level.

This plant is marketed in the US by Ozbreed as part of its Celebrated Plants line. It received its Plant Breeders Rights under Application No. 2006/035 on March 2006 and its US Plant Patent 20,794 in March 2010. We have grown this plant since 2011 and have several nice stands of it in the nursery gardens. 

This information about Dianella caerulea King Alfred ['John316'] PP20,794 displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.