Introducing...
Phormium
Common name: New Zealand Flax
Phormiums are exotic-looking evergreen perennials. They offer striking, often highly-coloured sword-like leaves and slender flower spikes that rise above the foliage. While best grown in sunny borders and gravel gardens, they make great focal points in containers.
Looks
Phormiums form shapely domes of broad, upright or arching, sword-like leaves ranging in colour from yellow-green to bronze-purple. The leaves are often striped or edged with cream, yellow, pink or red. Mature clumps produce tall stems carrying curious-looking yellow-green or red flowers in summer.
Likes
They are happy in most free-draining soils and in full sun. In northern parts of the UK, plant in sheltered, sunny position.
Dislikes
Phormiums may be slow to establish in very light, dry soils. On wet soils, the roots can suffer in the winter months. The leaves can also be severely damage by hard frost, so winter protection may be needed in cold snaps.
Did you know?
Though sometimes offered for sale as shrubs, phormiums are actually evergreen perennials from New Zealand and were grown as a source of fibre for traditional Maori textiles and rope making.
Growing guide
How to grow Phormium
All the information you’ll need to grow and care for phormiums in your garden.
Phormium we recommend
Phormium 'Sundowner' (v)
flax lily 'Sundowner'
- 1–1.5 metres
- 1–1.5 metres
Phormium 'Maori Queen' (v)
flax lily 'Maori Queen'
- 1–1.5 metres
- 1–1.5 metres
Phormium cookianum subsp. hookeri 'Tricolor' (v)
mountain flax 'Tricolor'
- 1–1.5 metres
- 1.5–2.5 metres
Phormium 'Sundowner' (v)
flax lily 'Sundowner'
- 1–1.5 metres
- 1–1.5 metres
Phormium 'Maori Queen' (v)
flax lily 'Maori Queen'
- 1–1.5 metres
- 1–1.5 metres
Phormium cookianum subsp. hookeri 'Tricolor' (v)
mountain flax 'Tricolor'
- 1–1.5 metres
- 1.5–2.5 metres
Useful advice
Container maintenance
Containers: summer selection
Gravel gardens
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.