Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Phormium tenax
New Zealand Flax
- Family
- Asphodelaceae
- Height
- Up to 10 feet
- Width
- Up to 6 feet
- Flower color
- Bright red or yellow
- Foliage color
- Varies by cultivar; can be green, bronze, purple, or variegated with stripes of red, pink, yellow, or cream
- Bloom time
- Late spring to early summer
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Moderate; prefers well-drained soil
- Maintenance
- Low; remove dead or damaged leaves in spring
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 9–11
- Wildlife
- Attracts nectar-seeking birds
About this plant
Phormium tenax is a perennial plant native to New Zealand and Norfolk Island. It blooms from late spring to early summer, producing tall flowering stalks that can reach up to 12 feet in height. These stalks bear clusters of tubular flowers, typically in shades of red or reddish-orange, which attract nectar-seeking birds and insects.
Phormium tenax is primarily grown for its ornamental value, featuring long, strap-like leaves that can grow up to 10 feet in length. These leaves come in various colors, including green, bronze, purple, and variegated forms. It is a hardy plant, suitable for gardens in temperate and subtropical climates, and can be used as a bold focal point or as part of a mixed planting design.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Bird Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens
Companion plants
Foxgloves · Bergenias · Sedums · Columbines · Lungworts · Daylilies
Design tip
Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. It takes sun or light shade, which makes it useful along the changing light of a bed edge or a partly shaded border.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Washington Park Arboretum.
