Botanical name:

Phormium tenax

Common name(s):

Flax, Harakeke

About:

A large flax plant that forms robust clumps of broad, lush green leaves that create an attractive and dense foliage. Traditionally, flax has held significant importance as a versatile material used for weaving and crafting various types of fibre. This plant is an excellent choice for providing low shelter and effective erosion control in various landscapes. The beautiful red seeds that emerge from January to March, along with the nectar available from December to January, are highly attractive to native birds and bees, making it an essential part of local ecosystems. Furthermore, flax is a vigorous grower that demonstrates remarkable tolerance to a wide range of growing conditions, including both swampy areas and coastal environments.

Natural habitat:

Common from lowland and coastal areas to montane forest, usually but not exclusively, in wetlands and in open ground along riversides.

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun, Salt, Wetland, Wind, Coastal, Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

Indigenous to New Zealand and Norfolk Island. Many botanists feel that plants from the Chatham Islands could be distinguished at species rank from the mainland New Zealand species, other distinctive variants occur on the Three Kings and outer Hauraki Gulf Islands, and along the Kaikoura coast. Norfolk Island plants though uniform differ in subtle ways from the New Zealand forms of P. tenax.

Height: 3.5m

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.

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