Plant in full to half day sun and irrigate regularly to occasionally – survives at lower water regimes but looks best with regular irrigation. Stays evergreen in temperatures down to at least 23° F and useful down to USDA Zone 8. This plant is noted as having a high tolerance to "drought" and thriving in a wide range of soil types from well drained to clay and even seasonally wet soils but best if crown is elevated above soil and mulch in heavier clay soils but our experience with it indicates that regular irrigation will be required to keep it looking happy in our Mediterranean climate.

In eastern Australian it is also noted to tolerate near seaside conditions if protected from direct exposure. The clumps can be trimmed back about halfway above the ground every 3 to 5 years to remove old foliage and rejuvenate the planting. It is also noted as a good compact plant for rooftop gardens and for use in poor soils and has a higher tolerance of the water mold Phytophthora, which has been a problem with other varieties when grown in moist or humid locations. Likely this is due to the natural habitat of Lomandra fluviatilis, which naturally occurs along creek beds moist alluvial soils in New South Wales.

This trial information was provided by observations of this plant growing in eastern Australia and there has yet to be any good observations of long term success of this plant in our California mediterranean climate, so while this plant has grown well in our nursery conditions, the jury is still out about this plants usefulness and appropriate setting in our west coast gardens. It has looked great when growing in nursery conditions in containers with regular irrigation but its performance in drier landscapes indicates to us that it would be happier as a container plant or in a location where it gets regular watering in our climate - for this reason we discontinued growing it in 2020 after offering it the previous four years.

The genus Lomandra has long been placed with the Australian Grass Trees in the Xanthorrhoaceae or related Dasypogonaceae and more in its own family, the Lomandraceae. or combined with the Cordyline into the Laxmanniaceae, but current treatment is to put it in the subfamily Lomandroideae in the Asparagaceae. The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'loma' meaning "margin" and 'andros' meaning "male" and is in reference to a circular margin on the anthers. The specific epithet is from the Latin word 'fluvius' meaning "river" with the combination meaning "of a river".

This Shara ['AU807'] was an improved form of the original Lomandra fluviatilis 'ABU7' that was also marketed in Australian using the name "Shara" but not imported into the US . Both plants come from the breeding work of Jon Williams of Dural, New South Wales, Australia. The first generation 'ABU7' was selected from seedlings grown in 1997 and 'AU807' was selected in 2007 from seedlings germinated in 2004. 'AU807' received US Plant Patent PP23,950 in October 2013. In its patent application this cultivar was described as ""a distinctive variety of Lomandra fluviatilis which is characterized by a combination of improved vigor, short plant height, long and arching foliage and a high number of inflorescences borne on long peduncles" 'AU807' is a more compact plant, reaching only 14 inches compared to 'ABU7', which is 16 inches tall with 18 inches long leaves that are slightly longer than those of 'ABU7', but of a more arching in habit which allows the vertically inclined flower stalks, that are also slightly longer on 'AU807', to be showier as they rise above the foliage. It is marketed in the US as part of the Dig Plant Collection. 

The information about Lomandra fluviatilis Shara ['AU807'] PP23,950 displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include 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 we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.