species
Phormium tenax
New Zealand flax
Scale drawing from this record, beside a 1.7 m figure.
Phormium tenax is a perennial in the family Asphodelaceae, also known as New Zealand flax, introduced to the UK. It reaches 3 m tall and 2 m across in about 10 years. It grows in full sun, on loam, clay or sand soil, where the ground is acid, neutral or alkaline and in moist or well drained conditions, and suits average positions. It tolerates coastal exposure. It flowers in July and is evergreen. Its RHS hardiness rating is H5 (hardy, cold winter): −15 to −10°C.
Assembled from the attributes recorded below.
What this plant needs
- Size at maturity
- 3 m tall × 2 m across, after about 10 years
- Hardiness
- H5 (RHS)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Aspect
- Full sun
- Soil
- Loam, Clay, Sand
- Acidity
- Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
- Moisture
- Moist, Well drained
- Exposure
- Average
- Coastal
- Tolerates salt wind
- In the UK
- Introduced
When it flowers
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Evergreen — it holds its leaves through the winter.
Plan a bed with Phormium tenax
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Start a plan with Phormium tenax