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Phormium (Phormium)
Phormium comprises a small genus of grasslike flowering plants in the Asphodelaceae family. They are normally found in swamps and low-lying regions but can grow in a wide range of habitats. The leaves are tough and sword-shaped, with cultivated varieties coming in an assortment of colors. Phormium species were historically used to make ropes, sails, and fabrics. The Latin name comes from an Ancient Greek word for "basket."
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Succulent
Key Facts About Phormium
Feedback
Attributes of Phormium
Plant Height
3 m
Spread
1 m
Leaf type
Evergreen
Ideal Temperature
15 - 38 ℃
Scientific Classification of Phormium
Phylum
Vascular plants
Class
Monocotyledons
Order
Asparagus and allies
Family
Asphodel
Genus
Phormium
Distribution of Phormium
Feedback
Distribution Map of Phormium
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Phormium
Feedback
Phormium requires full sun to partial shade, well-draining soil, and moderate watering, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. It thrives in temperatures typically found in hardiness zones 8-11. Gardeners often face challenges with mealybugs, scale, and root rot. Seasonally, phormium benefits from protection against frost in winter and requires less watering in the offseason. During growth periods in spring and summer, phormium may need more frequent watering and occasional grooming to remove spent leaves.
How to Water Phormium ?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Phormium ?
How to Propagate Phormium ?
Exploring the Phormium Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
New zealand flax
New zealand flax is an evergreen plant that produces red, erect flowers. Although the plant is primarily grown for its attractive flowers, it will not produce them if planted in small containers. The plant thrives in natural conditions and prefers well-draining soil and full sun.
Mountain flax
Mountain flax is a perennial considered sacred to the Māori people of New Zealand, where the plant is endemic. The Māori have historically used it to weave baskets and make waistbands. This large-leaf plant is propagated by dividing its root ball.
Flax 'Maori Queen'
Set apart by its bronze and cream coloring, the flax 'Maori Queen' will shift to more cream color throughout its season. It is a selection of Phormium cookianum “Maori Maiden” and Phormium tenax “Atropurpureum,” part of the "Maori" series developed by Margaret Jones in New Zealand, where one finds the indigenous Maori people. The flax 'Maori Queen' can be used as an accent, cut flower, specimen, or container cultivar.
Flax 'Tricolor'
Flax 'Tricolor' is most admired for the color of its sword-like foliage, green with cream-colored stripes and vivid red margins, hence the name 'Tricolor'. Gardeners also love the flowers that protrude out above the foliage in summer. It's a subspecies of Phormium cookianum, but the original parent plant doesn't have the red coloration interestingly.
New zealand flax 'Jester'
New zealand flax 'Jester' has a unique structure and contrasting coloration with pink leaves with lime-green edges. Bred from the flax plant, the new zealand flax 'Jester' cultivar is an eye-catching garden plant popular as either an accent piece or for use as a colorful border.
Flax 'Cream Delight'
Flax 'Cream Delight' is a New Zealand flax cultivar named for the creamy white centers of its leaves. It provides color in the winter garden when other plants are dormant. This is a versatile plant to fill a large space or form a backdrop for showier plants.
New zealand flax 'Dark Delight'
New zealand flax 'Dark Delight' is a flax bush with very dark, reddish-brown leaves, which give it its sultry name. It is originally native to New Zealand but is enjoyed in many countries because it creates such an interesting texture and visual effect in a garden. Its long, spined leaves can be as tall as 1.5 m, and it is very disease resistant.
New zealand flax 'Amazing Red'
Compact size, shockingly red flowers, and bronze-colored evergreen foliage make new zealand flax 'Amazing Red' truly stand out. Cultivated as a New Zealand flax hybrid, this variety was aptly named for its amazingly red blooms and reddish leaves. New zealand flax 'Amazing Red' is popular in small gardens for its manageable size, centerpiece ornamental look, and appeal to hummingbirds.
All Species of Phormium
New zealand flax
New zealand flax
New zealand flax is an evergreen plant that produces red, erect flowers. Although the plant is primarily grown for its attractive flowers, it will not produce them if planted in small containers. The plant thrives in natural conditions and prefers well-draining soil and full sun.
Mountain flax
Mountain flax
Mountain flax is a perennial considered sacred to the Māori people of New Zealand, where the plant is endemic. The Māori have historically used it to weave baskets and make waistbands. This large-leaf plant is propagated by dividing its root ball.
Flax 'Maori Queen'
Flax 'Maori Queen'
Set apart by its bronze and cream coloring, the flax 'Maori Queen' will shift to more cream color throughout its season. It is a selection of Phormium cookianum “Maori Maiden” and Phormium tenax “Atropurpureum,” part of the "Maori" series developed by Margaret Jones in New Zealand, where one finds the indigenous Maori people. The flax 'Maori Queen' can be used as an accent, cut flower, specimen, or container cultivar.
Flax 'Tricolor'
Flax 'Tricolor'
Flax 'Tricolor' is most admired for the color of its sword-like foliage, green with cream-colored stripes and vivid red margins, hence the name 'Tricolor'. Gardeners also love the flowers that protrude out above the foliage in summer. It's a subspecies of Phormium cookianum, but the original parent plant doesn't have the red coloration interestingly.
New zealand flax 'Jester'
New zealand flax 'Jester'
New zealand flax 'Jester' has a unique structure and contrasting coloration with pink leaves with lime-green edges. Bred from the flax plant, the new zealand flax 'Jester' cultivar is an eye-catching garden plant popular as either an accent piece or for use as a colorful border.
Flax 'Cream Delight'
Flax 'Cream Delight'
Flax 'Cream Delight' is a New Zealand flax cultivar named for the creamy white centers of its leaves. It provides color in the winter garden when other plants are dormant. This is a versatile plant to fill a large space or form a backdrop for showier plants.
New zealand flax 'Dark Delight'
New zealand flax 'Dark Delight'
New zealand flax 'Dark Delight' is a flax bush with very dark, reddish-brown leaves, which give it its sultry name. It is originally native to New Zealand but is enjoyed in many countries because it creates such an interesting texture and visual effect in a garden. Its long, spined leaves can be as tall as 1.5 m, and it is very disease resistant.
New zealand flax 'Amazing Red'
New zealand flax 'Amazing Red'
Compact size, shockingly red flowers, and bronze-colored evergreen foliage make new zealand flax 'Amazing Red' truly stand out. Cultivated as a New Zealand flax hybrid, this variety was aptly named for its amazingly red blooms and reddish leaves. New zealand flax 'Amazing Red' is popular in small gardens for its manageable size, centerpiece ornamental look, and appeal to hummingbirds.
New Zealand flax 'Yellow Wave'
New Zealand flax 'Yellow Wave'
New Zealand flax 'Yellow Wave' (Phormium tenax 'Yellow Wave') is an ornamental cultivar of New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax). These plants have attractive bright yellow-striped leaves. Though new Zealand flax 'Yellow Wave' rarely flowers, its mature yellow flowers draw a variety of bird species. These plants can be planted in most gardens and do well as border plants.
New zealand flax 'Platt's Black'
New zealand flax 'Platt's Black'
New zealand flax 'Platt's Black' is a New Zealand flax cultivar, noted for its sword-like, chocolate brown to gray leaves. New zealand flax 'Platt's Black' is presumably one of the darkest New Zealand flax cultivars. It is often used in landscaping, mostly as an accent plant, but it also provides an excellent contract when planted along with brightly colored plants.
New zealand flax 'Variegatum'
New zealand flax 'Variegatum'
New zealand flax 'Variegatum' is a type of flax which has green and white variegation running vertically up and down the edges of its long leaves. It blooms in orange-red stalks in summer. This cultivar is disease-free, low-maintenance, and can grow in areas of low moisture.
New zealand flax 'Sundowner'
New zealand flax 'Sundowner'
New zealand flax 'Sundowner' is a New Zealand flax that has striking leaves; the dark reddish-green centers are surrounded by a sunset-tinged pink edge that pales to a creamy yellow later in the season. This is an impressive hybrid, given that the parent plant's leaves are typically a single-colored purple. This hybrid received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
More Popular Genus
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Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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About
Key Facts
Distribution
How To Care
All Species
More Genus
Phormium
Phormium
Phormium comprises a small genus of grasslike flowering plants in the Asphodelaceae family. They are normally found in swamps and low-lying regions but can grow in a wide range of habitats. The leaves are tough and sword-shaped, with cultivated varieties coming in an assortment of colors. Phormium species were historically used to make ropes, sails, and fabrics. The Latin name comes from an Ancient Greek word for "basket."
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Succulent
Key Facts About Phormium
Feedback
Attributes of Phormium
Plant Height
3 m
Spread
1 m
Leaf type
Evergreen
Ideal Temperature
15 - 38 ℃
Scientific Classification of Phormium
Phylum
Vascular plants Class
Monocotyledons Order
Asparagus and allies Family
Asphodel Genus
Phormium Distribution of Phormium
Feedback
Distribution Map of Phormium
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Phormium
Feedback
Phormium requires full sun to partial shade, well-draining soil, and moderate watering, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. It thrives in temperatures typically found in hardiness zones 8-11. Gardeners often face challenges with mealybugs, scale, and root rot. Seasonally, phormium benefits from protection against frost in winter and requires less watering in the offseason. During growth periods in spring and summer, phormium may need more frequent watering and occasional grooming to remove spent leaves.
How to Water Phormium ?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Phormium ?
How to Propagate Phormium ?
Exploring the Phormium Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
New zealand flax
New zealand flax is an evergreen plant that produces red, erect flowers. Although the plant is primarily grown for its attractive flowers, it will not produce them if planted in small containers. The plant thrives in natural conditions and prefers well-draining soil and full sun.
Mountain flax
Mountain flax is a perennial considered sacred to the Māori people of New Zealand, where the plant is endemic. The Māori have historically used it to weave baskets and make waistbands. This large-leaf plant is propagated by dividing its root ball.
Flax 'Maori Queen'
Set apart by its bronze and cream coloring, the flax 'Maori Queen' will shift to more cream color throughout its season. It is a selection of Phormium cookianum “Maori Maiden” and Phormium tenax “Atropurpureum,” part of the "Maori" series developed by Margaret Jones in New Zealand, where one finds the indigenous Maori people. The flax 'Maori Queen' can be used as an accent, cut flower, specimen, or container cultivar.
Flax 'Tricolor'
Flax 'Tricolor' is most admired for the color of its sword-like foliage, green with cream-colored stripes and vivid red margins, hence the name 'Tricolor'. Gardeners also love the flowers that protrude out above the foliage in summer. It's a subspecies of Phormium cookianum, but the original parent plant doesn't have the red coloration interestingly.
Show More Species
All Species of Phormium
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
