Also known as the New Zealand flax, this beautiful plant is a very versatile evergreen. They have strong, strappy, arched, sword-shaped leaves and make a dramatic feature in the garden. Some varieties act as stunning alternative centrepieces for pots, while other larger, growing varieties make a bold architectural statement in the border.
Phormiums love full sun, but will tolerate a partial shade. Soil should ideally be rich, moist but well-drained. In poorer soils you can still grow them but you must feed regularly with a fertiliser such as Fish, Blood and Bone. They are great plants for windy, coastal gardens. Phormiums are frost hardy to about -10 degrees. A lot of phormiums were lost in the cold winters of 2010/11 . Mulching around the base of the plant can prevent a lot of losses due to extreme cold weather.
Many phormiums can grow into very large plants. I have chosen some varieties which are smaller growing and are ideal for growing in pots or in the middle of the border:
Phormium Duet: This is a semi-dwarf variety with narrow stiff green leaves with a creamy white variegation on the edges and grows to approx. 80cm.
Phormium Pink Panther: Again growing to about 80cm tall, this clump-forming perennial is a real beauty. The pink strappy leaves are edged with deep red. This plant would look amazing in a blue glazed pot under-planted with pink mini-cyclamen.
Phormium Pink Stripe: A larger growing variety, this one grows to about 1.2m. The foliage is dark green and bronze with a strong pink stripe. It is a wonderful anchor plant for an ornamental grass garden or brilliant in a herbaceous border with dahlia varieties such as Fascination or the beautiful silver foliage of Astelia nervosa.
Phormiums love full sun, but will tolerate a partial shade. Soil should ideally be rich, moist but well-drained. In poorer soils you can still grow them but you must feed regularly with a fertiliser such as Fish, Blood and Bone. They are great plants for windy, coastal gardens. Phormiums are frost hardy to about -10 degrees. A lot of phormiums were lost in the cold winters of 2010/11 . Mulching around the base of the plant can prevent a lot of losses due to extreme cold weather.
Many phormiums can grow into very large plants. I have chosen some varieties which are smaller growing and are ideal for growing in pots or in the middle of the border:
Phormium Duet: This is a semi-dwarf variety with narrow stiff green leaves with a creamy white variegation on the edges and grows to approx. 80cm.
Phormium Pink Panther: Again growing to about 80cm tall, this clump-forming perennial is a real beauty. The pink strappy leaves are edged with deep red. This plant would look amazing in a blue glazed pot under-planted with pink mini-cyclamen.
Phormium Pink Stripe: A larger growing variety, this one grows to about 1.2m. The foliage is dark green and bronze with a strong pink stripe. It is a wonderful anchor plant for an ornamental grass garden or brilliant in a herbaceous border with dahlia varieties such as Fascination or the beautiful silver foliage of Astelia nervosa.
