Phormium tenax

Plant Characteristics

Origin:	✈	?

Cultivation

Exposure:	☼	?"?" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property.
Water:	◍	?"?" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property.

Scientific Names

Read about Phormium tenax in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Phormium tenax, Forst. New Zealand Flax. Fig. 2922, Robust: lvs. attaining 9 ft., 2-5 in. wide, flat above, dark green, margin and keel bright red or brownish: scape 5-10 or even 15 ft. high, terete and glabrous, reddish purple, bearing numerous fls. which are usually dull red but varying almost to pure yellow; perianth 1-2 in. long: caps, stout, erect or inclined, 2-4 in. long. B.M. 3199. Gn. 26, p. 397; 50. p. 369; 70, p. 99; 73, p. 123. G. 33:553; 36:554. F.E. 18:288. G.L 27:219. A.F. 13:748. R.H. 1848:5. V. 13:340. Var. atropurpureum, Hort., has reddish purple foliage. R.H. 1877, p. 389. Var. atropurpureum variegatum, Hort., a "veritable fountain of white, purple and rose-color." Var. atropurpureum nanum, Hort., is a dwarf form. Var. nigro-pictum, Hort. (P. purpureum nigro-limbatum, Hort.). Lvs. deep green, with a narrow margin of blackish purple, which tec-pines broader and more distinct toward the base, making in mature plants a zigzag line which outlines the 2-ranked habit of the lvs. Var. variegatum, Hort., lvs. striped creamy yellow and white. R.H. 1878, p. 86. G.C. III. 29:169. Var. Veitchianum, Hort. (var. Veitchii and P. Veitchianum, Hort.), broad creamy white stripes on a light green ground. A.F. 5:39. The type and varieties all have the red margin. Var. Powerscourtii, Hort., differs from the type in narrower and more rigid lvs.; said to be hardier and freer-blooming. G.W. 1907, p. 3.—P. tenax is a most useful fiber plant in New Zeal., ranking in economic importance in the native flora only below the main timber trees. CH The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

Cultivation

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Propagation

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Pests and diseases

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Gallery

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

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