Phormium tenax
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- FOR-mee-um TEN-aks
- Description
-
Phormium tenax, commonly called New Zealand flax, is native to New Zealand. It is an evergreen, clump-forming tender perennial that is grown for its attractive foliage. It grows in average, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. It makes a good container plant, providing height and color contrast.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: mealybugs and slugs. Leaf spot may damage the foliage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Guardsman'
- 'Mao'
- 'Mat's Merlot'
Deep dark, almost black leaves
- 'Guardsman'
- 'Guardsman', 'Mao', 'Mat's Merlot'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Guardsman'
- 'Mao'
- 'Mat's Merlot'
Deep dark, almost black leaves
- 'Guardsman'
- 'Guardsman', 'Mao', 'Mat's Merlot'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Phormium
- Species:
- tenax
- Family:
- Asphodelaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- New Zeland
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is highly salt tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Description:
- Panicles of dark red flowers appear well above the foliage atop stout, rigid flowering spikes (to 12’ tall) in summer. Plants grown in containers arely flowers
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Rigid, sword-shaped, linear, bright green leaves (3-9’ long) in erect clumps. Leaf margins and midribs are narrowly edged with red-orange. Leaves are creased down the middle and folded into a v-shape.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Salt
