Phormium tenax (New Zealand Flax)
New Zealand Flax, Common Flax Lily, Flax Bush, New Zealand Hemp, Coastal Flax
Stunning focal point for the garden, Phormium tenax (New Zealand Flax) is a very ornamental and robust evergreen perennial featuring a basal rosette of rigid, sword-shaped, upright leaves up to 10 ft. long (3 m), ranging from green to bronze to chocolate-brown. Some cultivars produce variegated leaves, beautifully striped or edged with pink, red, orange or purple, adding a bright note to the garden year-round. The architectural foliage is topped in summer with a dramatic flowering stalk reaching up to 12 ft. (360 cm) and bearing panicles of tubular flowers, about 2 in. long (5 cm), in shades of deep red or reddish-orange. Showy, they attract nectar-seeking birds. Native to New Zealand, Phormium tenax is primarily grown for its attractive foliage.
- Adds architectural height to the garden and grows up to 1-12 ft. high (30-360 cm) and 1-3 ft. wide (30-90 cm).
- Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerates a wide range of soils, including poor soils and even a strong shade. Salt and drought tolerant.
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Great for beds and borders, city gardens, coastal gardens, gravel gardens or Mediterranean gardens. Excellent as a container plant!
- Virtually disease free. Watch for mealybug
- Propagate by seed sown in spring or by division in spring
- Remove dead or damaged leaves in the spring
- Great Phormium tenax cultivars:
'Duet' - with sword-shaped leaves green in the center, variegated with cream along the margins. 32 in. tall (80 cm). AGM award
'Sundowner' - with erect bronze-green leaves striped towards the margins with red and pink. 5 ft. tall (150 cm). AGM award
'Variegatum' - with erect, strap-shaped, green leaves striped with cream towards the margins. 5 ft. tall (150 cm). AGM award
'Yellow Wave' - with arching, strap-shaped leaves heavily striped with bright gold. Up to 12 ft. tall (3m60). AGM award
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Requirements
Hardiness | 9
– 11 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 2
– 12 |
Climate Zones | 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2 |
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Phormium - Flaxes |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early,Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall Winter |
Height | 1' – 12' (30cm – 3.6m) |
Spread | 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm) |
Spacing | 12" – 36" (30cm – 90cm) |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Salt |
Attracts | Birds |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 9
– 11 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 2
– 12 |
Climate Zones | 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2 |
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Phormium - Flaxes |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early,Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall Winter |
Height | 1' – 12' (30cm – 3.6m) |
Spread | 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm) |
Spacing | 12" – 36" (30cm – 90cm) |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Salt |
Attracts | Birds |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |