Phormium tenax (New Zealand Flax)

A 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 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