| Genus -
Phormium |
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| Species -
Tenax |
| Common
Names: New Zealand Flax, Harakeke (Māori),
Sword Plant. |
| Growth
Rate: Average |
| Height: 3m |
| Spread:
2m |
| Position:
Full Sun to part shade |
| Hardiness:
Hardy to Half Hardy. Young plants may need to be
covered with fleece. |
| Soil:
Tolerant of a wide range of soils |
| Origin:
New Zealand |
| Health:
Māori uses. The sticky sap was
applied to boils and wounds and used for
toothache. Flax leaves were used in binding broken
bones and matted leaves were used as dressings.
Flax root juice was applied to wounds as a
disinfectant. |
| Salt
Tolerance: Very Good |
| Wildlife
Benefits: Not native but frogs and newts
hibernate amongst the leaves. Flowers enjoyed by
moths which in turn attract bats. |
| Propagation
Methods: From seed. By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or
bulbs (including offsets). |
| Seeds available
from: Click
Here |
| Plants available
from: Click
Here |
| Phormium
are evergreen perennials that are more commonly referred to as
New Zealand flax due to their leaves being used as fibres by
the Māori. Typically dark green with the occasional
splash of colour the genus phormium now has many cultivars
displaying an array of colours and variegated varieties.
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| Phormium are a clump forming
shrub that is very versatile and will grow almost anywhere,
they are tolerant of a wide range of condition thus making
them an excellent addition to any garden. To allow phormium to
thrive ensure the soil is well drained and in full sun. There
are varieties of phormium that can reach fairly large heights
and once in the ground can be difficult to remove, if there is
limited space or the need to transfer the plant in the future
make sure to choose a smaller variety or keep it pot bound |
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Phormium are hardy to
half-hardy but will grow in many conditions including windy,
exposed and coastal areas. Plant in a spot that is
open and when the weather gets cooler it may be necessary to
cover immature plants with fleece until mature. Propagation by
division can occur in spring and the foliage can be tidied up
after winter. |
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Phormium Tenax - New Zealand Flax |
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| With
their arching, strappy, sword-shaped leaves, Phormiums
make a dramatic statement in the garden. Originating
from New Zealand, where their fibre has traditionally
been used in the same way as hemp or sisal, they are
versatile evergreen plants that tolerate a range of
conditions and look at home in a variety of different
planting planting schemes. |
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Phormium Tenax - New Zealand Flax |
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| Phormium
is commonly known as New Zealand flax. This plant has
lovely dense green foliage. Evergreen, grown for their
bold, sword shaped leaves. Frost hardy, requires sun and
moist but well drained soil. |
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Phormium
cultivars... |
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Phormium 'Back in Black' - New Zealand Flax |
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Phormium 'Back in Black' - New Zealand Flax |
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| This Phormium provides all year round colour with its black leaves that turn red in the autumn. It is compact and ideal for small gardens. This variety is a superb architectural plant. |
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Phormium
'Gold Sword' - New Zealand Flax |
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Phormium
'Gold Sword' - New Zealand Flax |
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| 'Gold
Sword' is a really good coloured golden foliaged
evergreen perennial. An ideal specimen for a mixed
border or in a large container on the terrace.
Especially useful for bringing colour to a winter
garden. It is good in maritime exposure. |
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Phormium 'Platt's Black' - New Zealand Flax
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Phormium 'Platt's Black' - New Zealand Flax |
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| Phormium 'Platt's Black'
makes a stunning centrepiece in a container, or an
architectural specimen plant in the border, providing a
fabulous contrast for silvers, pinks, blues and whites.
In hot summers, a spike of tubular, red flowers will
shoot up from the centre, followed by study seed-heads. |
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Phormium
'Jester' - New Zealand Flax |
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Phormium
'Jester' - New Zealand Flax |
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| Jester
is a must-have plant. The bright red evergreen foliage
of this wonderful Phormium creates a mound of colour
that has a dramatic effect in the garden. Brilliant as a
container plant. Good in maritime exposure. |
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Phormium
'In the Red' - New Zealand Flax |
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Phormium
'In the Red' - New Zealand Flax |
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| This Phormium provides all year round colour with its deep red leaves. It is a superb architectural plant that is perfect for borders & pots and containers. |
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Phormium 'Sundowner' - New Zealand flax
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Phormium 'Sundowner' - New Zealand
Flax |
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| This
spectacular phormium is perfect for a sunny, exotic or
Mediterranean-style garden, as part of a scheme based on
'hot' colours, or as a foil for ornamental grasses. |
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Phormium
'Variegata' - Variegated New Zealand Flax |
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Phormium
'variegata' - Variegated New Zealand Flax |
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| A
large impressive evergreen plant that should find a
place in any garden. Wonderful in a mixed border when
its lovely variegated foliage will have a dramatic
effect. |
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Phormium
'Pink Stripe' - New Zealand Flax |
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Phormium
'Pink Stripe' - New Zealand Flax |
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| A colourful
phormium with long green fronds that have a narrow stripe of pinkish red down the leaves. Great for containers or garden borders. Ideal plants for costal gardens. |
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Phormium
'Carousel' - New Zealand Flax |
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Phormium
'Carousel' - New Zealand Flax |
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| Carousel'
is a lovely combination of bronze and green with a
distinctive pink margin. An architectural plant to bring
drama to a mixed border or as a specimen. A good strong
colour less inclined to revert. Impressive in a
container on the terrace. |
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Phormium 'Apricot Queen' - New Zealand flax
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Phormium
'Apricot Queen' - New Zealand Flax |
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| This
magnificent, multi-coloured phormium is perfect for
creating a sub-tropical effect in a sunny, sheltered
spot in the garden. In hot summers, a spike of tubular,
red flowers will shoot up from the centre, followed by
sturdy seed-heads that provide interest in the winter
garden. |
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Phormium
'Apricot Queen' - New Zealand Flax |
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| A
beautiful clump-forming golden New Zealand Flax plant,
it looks wonderful in a grass garden, in a container or
as an invaluable addition to a mixed border. |
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Phormium
'Duet' - New Zealand Flax |
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Phormium
'Duet' - New Zealand Flax |
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| A colourful
phormium with long green fronds with a cream edge. Phormiums are a great plant for containers or garden borders. Ideal plants for costal gardens. |
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Phormium 'Bronze Baby' - New Zealand Flax
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Phormium
'Bronze Baby' - New Zealand Flax |
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| This
is a compact variety, with deep purple-bronze leaves
that make dramatic punctuation marks in a sheltered,
sunny patio or courtyard. The dark leaves are
beautifully offset by gravel, too. In hot summers, a
spike of tubular, red flowers will shoot up from the
centre, followed by sturdy seed-heads. |
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Phormium
'Bronze Baby' - New Zealand Flax |
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| New
Zealand Flax - Phormium 'Bronze Baby' a brilliant dark
evergeen foliage perennial for a container in a modern
garden. This Phormium is also a lovely low growing spot
plant that will add interest to a mixed border. |
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Phormium cookianum
hookeri 'Tricolor' - New Zealand Flax
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Phormium cookianum
'Tricolor' - New Zealand Flax |
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| Spikes
of tubular, yellow-green flowers emerge in summer above
clumps of sword-shaped, creamy-yellow and green striped
leaves, with a thin red edge. This highly-decorative
mountain flax makes a great all-year feature plant for a
sheltered, sunny, site. In frost-prone areas,
over-winter container-grown specimens in a frost-free
greenhouse or conservatory. |
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Phormium cookianum 'Tricolor' - New Zealand Flax |
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| A
fabulous plant which forms a large mound of drooping
variegated foliage. Wonderfully eye-catching; Its
colourful evergreen foliage will co-ordinate with any
colour scheme. A perfect container plant. |
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Phormium
'Pink Panther' - New Zealand Flax |
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Phormium
'Pink Panther' - New Zealand Flax |
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| This
Phormium has fine evergreen leaves that bear a pink
central band making it a good container plant. A pretty
plant for the front of a border to bring out the colour
of a scheme. |
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Phormium 'Evening Glow' - New Zealand Flax
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Phormium 'Evening Glow' - New Zealand Flax |
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| Broad,
arching, wine-red leaves with bronze margins and spikes
of tubular, red summer flowers. This vibrant, evergreen
foliage plant is excellent for brightening a sheltered,
sunny patio or courtyard garden. In frost-prone areas
container-grown specimens should be over-wintered
indoors under glass. |
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Phormium
'Yellow Wave' - New Zealand Flax |
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Phormium
'Yellow Wave' - New Zealand Flax |
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| 'Yellow
Wave' is a wonderful Phormium forming a very impressive
golden edged with green, weeping mound. It will brighten
any area of the garden whether in a mixed border, in a
group with other Phormiums, or in a container. This in
very important in the winter garden. |
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Phormium 'Maori Queen'
'Rainbow Queen' - New Zealand Flax
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Phormium 'Maori Queen' -
New Zealand Flax |
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| This
one has broad, bronze-green leaves with rose-red
margins, and a sliver of cream at the edge. This
dramatic, evergreen, architectural plant adds a touch of
exotica to a sunny, sheltered spot in the garden. In hot
summers, a spike of tubular, red flowers will shoot up
from the centre, followed by sturdy seed-heads. |
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Phormium
'Rainbow Queen' - New Zealand Flax |
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| A colourful
phormium with bronze, green, silver and red fronds. Phormiums are great plants for containers or garden borders. Ideal plants for costal gardens. |
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Phormium 'Maori Sunrise' - New Zealand
Flax (Rainbow Sunrise)
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Phormium 'Maori Sunrise' -
(Rainbow Sunrise) |
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| As
its name suggests, this one looks particularly exotic,
with slender, apricot, gold, pink and bronze striped
leaves. It is compact too, so try it as a specimen in a
large container on the patio, or to provide structure
among ornamental grasses. In hot summers, a spike of
tubular, yellow-green flowers will shoot up from the
centre, followed by sturdy seed-heads. |
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Phormium
'Purpurea' / 'Purpureum'
- New Zealand Flax
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Phormium
'Purpurea' - New Zealand Flax |
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| Also
known as New Zealand flax, the Phormium plant has lovely
dense bronze - green foliage. Phormium plants are
evergreen, grown for their bold, stiff pointed rich
reddish purple to dark copper leaves. Phormium make
great architectural planting and also compliment
different species as part of a garden planting scheme. |
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Phormium
'Purpureum' - New Zealand Flax |
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| A
clump-forming architectural evergreen perennial. It can
be used as a specimen plant or as a spot plant in a
mixed border under planted with other perennials. An
impressive plant in a large container. |
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Phormium
'Golden Ray' - New Zealand Flax |
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Phormium
'Golden Ray' - New Zealand Flax |
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| A
broad plant with wide leaves that have a broad central
green band surrounded by yellow stripes and thin red
margins. This very attractive cultivar of the New
Zealand mountain flax, can look stunning in a modern
galvanised planter surrounded by a group of other
phormiums, agapanthus or grasses. |
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Phormium
'Merlot' - New Zealand Flax
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Phormium
'Merlot' - New Zealand Flax |
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| A
Flax for Connoisseurs of Foliage, this Phormium has two
characteristics which are sought-after by gardeners
looking to add a bit of drama to their borders. It
offers bold, architectural lines with its erect,
sword-shaped leaves and rich foliage colour. This
handsome flax can be used in many ways in the garden and
is also suitable for a large container - try growing it
in a very large, glazed red container if it's a really
bold statement you're after. |
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Juvenile Phormiums
planted with Black
grass 'Ophiopogon Nigrescens' |
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