Phormium cookianum, Plant Profile and Landscaping Uses
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.
Summary
- 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
