Botanical name:

Phormium cookianum

Common name(s):

Mountain Flax, Wharariki

About:

A flax-like plant characterised by its distinctive drooping, twisted seed pods and shiny green, wide, weeping leaves. The substantial and expansive root system this tree possesses makes it particularly effective for erosion control along banks and bunds. Additionally, it serves as a fantastic and reliable food source for a variety of native birds, contributing positively to the local ecosystem.

Natural habitat:

Strictly confined to subalpine, alpine situations.

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun, Drought, Salt, Wetland, Wind & Coastal tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

Common in the South Island, in subalpine/alpine situations. Scarce in North Island where only known from high alpine situations in the Tararua Ranges, and possible elsewhere within the central axial ranges.

Height: 2.5m

Flowering:

(September-) October-November (-January) with a red/pink or yellow coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

(November) December - March

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food & Riparian plantings.

How to grow:

Very easy from fresh seed. Most commonly grown by the division of rooted fans from established plants. Slow to establish and slow growing.

** Seed germinates without pre treatment. 4 weeks cold stratification will help speed this up though