New Zealand Flax
Phormium Tenax
Overview
New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax) stands out with sword-shaped, evergreen leaves reaching up to 10 feet long and 5 inches wide. Its dramatic foliage ranges from olive green to bronze, and in summer, it shoots up striking flower stalks up to 13 feet, attracting pollinators. Hardy in zones 8-11, it thrives in full sun to part shade and requires well-drained soil. Ideal as a focal point or in mass plantings for textural contrast.
Sun Full, Half, ShadeWater LowZones 9–10Type ShrubClimate Subtropical
Culture
- Sun
- Full, Half, Shade
- Water
- Low
- USDA zones
- 9–10
Shape & size
Classification
- Type
- Shrub
- Family
- Agavaceae
- Climate
- Subtropical
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Photograph: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source





