Common Fringe Lily

~ Thysanotus tuberosus ~

ASPARAGACEAE

A purple-fringed skirt blows outwards to reveal this delicate luminous Lily. Although widely spread, it can be an elusive character with its tiny flowers usually hiding in between clumps of Wallaby Grass. It’s known to be buzz-pollinated by native bees and has been seen flirting with local bee resident Homalictus holochlorus.

WHERE TO LOOK

The Fringe Lily loves the whole eastern side of Australia, ranging from coast to inland and up to the top of Queensland. Its habitats vary from Eucalypt woodlands and forest to moist and wet heathland areas, grasslands and semi-arid zones. It can be nestled amid Wallaby Grass and in the company of Grass Trees and many species of Native Orchids, Banksias and Acacias.

Locations → Queensland: Mount Barney National Park, Girraween National Park and Noosa National Park; NSW: Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Royal National Park and Blue Mountains National Park; ACT: Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve; Victoria: Anglesea Heath; WA: Kalamunda National Park.

FEATURES

Its flowers grow 15–35mm wide and have three signature large-fringed petals and three narrow pointy petals. One to eight blooms cluster along branched stems 60–80cm tall. The grass-like leaves are 10–60cm long and wither when the plant comes to flower. The fruit is a round capsule 7mm wide, which when ripe splits open to disperse its black seeds.

FLOWERING SEASON

Spring to late summer → Flowers can be seen from September to April and last only one day, opening up in the morning and dying by late afternoon. What a day.

TRADITIONAL USES

The crisp tubers are known to have been cooked and also eaten raw.

PLANTING

Fringe Lilies need no special seed treatment and can be found in specialty nurseries or online. If this particular species is not available, its genus friend T. multiflorus can easily be found and is almost identical in appearance. They do well in containers, gardens and rockeries in a sunny spot in well-draining soil. Seeds pop up two to five weeks after planting and propagation can be performed by dividing the clump of the mature plant.