A treasured fibre plant used by Indigenous Australians for weaving baskets, nets, and strong cordage. The deep indigo berries were eaten in moderation and loved by children as a colourful bush treat. Its resilience to fire and place along forest pathways made it a reliable companion plant, feeding wildlife and stabilising the land after disturbance.

Indigenous Uses

1. Fruit – eaten traditionally, but carefully

• The ripe berries (deep indigo-purple) were eaten by many Indigenous groups, but in moderation.

• The flavour is mild, slightly sweet, sometimes described as “grapey with a resin note.”

• Some groups only used it as a traveller’s nibble — a small energy hit when moving across country.

• The unripe berries were not eaten.

2. Leaves – highly valued fibre

One of the most important fibre plants of the east coast.

• Long, sword-like leaves were:

  • Split into fine strands

  • Scraped and softened

  • Twisted into cordage, nets, basketry, fishing lines, and headbands

• Some communities used them for dilbag (traditional bags).

This is one of the strongest naturally occurring fibres in the region.

3. Medicinal uses

• Heated leaves were sometimes used as a topical compress for:

  • Minor sprains

  • Muscle tightness

• Crushed leaves may have been used in washing blends with other plants.

4. Edible rhizome (sparingly)

• In some regions, the starchy underground root was roasted in ashes and eaten.

• This was more common during times of seasonal scarcity and not an everyday food.

Stories, Culture & Interesting Lore

1. The “blue jewels” of the forest floor

• Many Elders recall that children loved spotting the bright berries like “little gems” among the grass.

• The vivid colour made it a plant associated with good luck on the trail — a sign you’re walking in healthy forest.

2. A fire survivor

• Dianella caerulea resprouts strongly after fire thanks to its deep rhizomes.

• In some stories, this resilience is explained as the plant having a spirit that hides underground during danger and rises again once the land is ready.

3. The fibre that “holds the world together”

• Some communities describe flax lilies as plants that bind:

  • Bind tools

  • Bind baskets

  • Bind food bundles

  • Bind shelters

• Symbolically, Dianella was sometimes spoken of as a plant that “holds women’s work”, referring to weaving, carrying, gathering, and nurturing.

4. Plant of the pathways

• It often grows along well-drained slopes and walking tracks, making it a familiar companion on journeys.

• Its presence indicates:

  • Reasonable soil health

  • Good drainage

  • Stable forest edges

Modern Uses

1. Landscaping

Dianella caerulea is one of the most widely used natives in:

• Home gardens

• Council revegetation

• Habitat corridors

• Erosion control

• Bush tucker gardens

Reasons:

• Hardy

• Frost-tolerant

• Heat-tolerant

• Attractive year-round

• Excellent for wildlife

2. Food (modern bush-food use)

• The berries can be eaten fresh, though taste varies by subspecies.

• Used today in:

  • Salads

  • Garnishes

  • Native fruit platters for tourists

• Chefs often use them for their colour rather than flavour.

3. Craft & weaving

Modern artisans use the leaves for:

• Basketry

• Jewellery

• Natural weaving workshops

• Earth craft in school programs

• Eco-tourism demonstrations

4. Ecological landscaping

• Provides shelter for lizards, frogs, insects, and small birds.

• Berries feed:

  • Currawongs

  • Wrens

  • Fruit-eating birds

Ecological Importance

Wildlife interactions

• Berries eaten by birds, helping seed dispersal.

• Leaves provide habitat for ground-dwelling species.

• Flowers attract native bees.

Fire ecology

• Resprouts powerfully from rhizomes.

• One of the first plants to re-establish after burning, stabilising soil and preventing erosion.