The Flax Plants
Phormium is commonly called the New Zealand Flax and is a versatile landscaping plant grown for the bold strap like foliage. This is an evergreen perennial that has be highly hybridised over a number of years. Colours range from green through to reds, deep burgundy and pinks with variegated forms also available from selected wholesale growers.
Two Species are widely used, P. tenax and P. cookianum and both are from New Zealand
Phormium tenax Varieties
Phormium tenax hybrids are incredibly popular with landscapers and gardeners, phormium is fast growing, reasonably drought tolerant, copes with a range of soil conditions and phormiums come in a range of colors from green through to red plus variegated varieties.
Many forms will reach over 1m in height, excellent accent plants in landscaping schemes. Lower growing or ‘dwarf’ cultivars such as P. tenax ‘Sweet Mist’ and ‘Bronze Baby’ make excellent border plants reaching only 40 – 50 cm in height.
The variety most widely used in landscaping is Phormium Tenax. With lots of new Phormium Varieties coming onto the market we provide a rundown of some of the best varieties we have seen including:
- Brownie, Elfin and Sweet Mist which are smaller or ‘semi dwarf’ types.
- Darker foliage varieties include : Black Rage, Guardsman a red and black striped form, Dark Horse, Phormium tenax ‘Purpurea’, Bronze Baby
- Light foliage varieties include : Apricot Queen , Rainbow Queen , Pink Panther, Yellow Wave, Rainbow Sunrise, ‘ ‘Ice Queen’
- Others to look for include : ‘Needles’ , ‘Chieftain’, ‘Anna Red’ and Tricolor’
Phormium cookianum
Another wonderful flax from New Zealand, Phormium cookianum (syn. Phormium colensoi) is a strap leafed perennial sometimes known as the ‘Mountain Flax’.
Smaller growing than P. tenax and with graceful drooping foliage Phormium cookianum is also a little more shade tolerant.
A clumping evergreen perennial flax reaching around 1 – 2 m depending on cultivar.
P. cookianum is an excellent choice for a range of landscaping applications where larger flax varieties are not suitable.
As a border plant, a clump in the border or rock garden or grown in a container this is an easy care low maintenance plant.
Excellent for mass planting in larger landscape situations.
Basic Care
- Full sun to part shade
- Well drained soil
- Drought tolerant once established
- Height – 1m
Phormium cookianum Cultivars and Varieties
P. cookianum subsp. hookeri ‘Tricolor’ with its green and yellow striped foliage tinged with red is an excellent cultivar.
P. cookianum Cream Delight has paler green and yellow striped foliage, yellow flowers in summer
P. ‘Black Adder’ with its deep red foliage is a smaller growing plant to around 1m
The flax used for linseed and linen is Linum usitatissimum. Both have their uses in the garden however it is usually the New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax) that we see in gardens.
Phormium Tenax is available for sale from the following nurseries and growers
412 James Lane, Fern Hill VIC. 3458 - Phone 0419002651
Large range of Rare plants, Climbers, Bulbs, Perennials Fruit Trees, Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. Available both Retail and by Mail Order
www.whitehousenursery.com.au
862 Midland Highway Mount Rowan Vic 3352
We offer over 245 varieties of Fuchsia, tubestock, pots, baskets and standards. Mail order specialists. Open 7 days by appointment.
www.brenlissaonlinenursery.com.au
470 Monbulk-Silvan Road Monbulk VIC 3793
"Guaranteed mail order flowering bulbs, perennials, roses, trees, landscaping plants, garden accessories and community fundraising Austra lia-wide."
www.gardenexpress.com.au
357 Monbulk Road SILVAN VIC 3795
Guaranteed "garden worthy" bulbs, plants and perennials. Visit the website to browse our large range of daffodils or request the latest free catalogue.
www.tesselaar.net.au
Wholesale Suppliers
email ask@plantmark.com.au
One of Australia's largest wholesale trade nurseries. Over 30,000 species available, tubestock to advanced trees, an almost unlimited choice of plants.
www.plantmark.com.au
111 Stanhope Road Theresa Park NSW 2570
Offering a variety of sun hardy Australian natives and exotic trees, shrubs, groundcover's and perennials from semi advanced through to super advanced and semi-mature stock.
www.downesnursery.com.au