Overview

Phormium tenax 'Dazzler' is a evergreen perennial in the genus Phormium, part of the Asphodelaceae family, with evergreen foliage. It typically grows around 3.0 m tall. Phormium tenax 'Dazzler' grows best in full sun, and tolerates most soils. Its UK hardiness is rated H4. Suggested uses include ornamental, borders and containers. It is native to New Zealand.

About

Phormium tenax 'Dazzler' is an evergreen perennial in the Asphodelaceae that grows as a clump of upright, strap-like leaves. It can reach about 3.0 m in height, with flowering stalks produced in June to August. The plant prefers full sun and suits soils from sandy to clay that remain moist but well-drained, and it will tolerate wetter ground. Originating from New Zealand, it is used ornamentally in borders and containers.

Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Phormium tenax

About the genus

Phormium is a genus of two plant species in the family Asphodelaceae. One species is endemic to New Zealand and the other is native to New Zealand and Norfolk Island. The two species are widely known in New Zealand as flax or their Māori names wharariki and harakeke respectively, and elsewhere as New Zealand flax or flax lily, but they are not closely related to the Northern Hemisphere's flax, which is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and has been used by humans since 30,000 B.C.

Wikipedia contributors, "Phormium", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Phormium

In the garden

A member of the Asphodelaceae and native to New Zealand, Phormium tenax 'Dazzler' forms a pronounced clump of erect, strap-like leaves that give it an architectural presence. Flowering stalks appear in June to August, rising above the foliage and providing a seasonal vertical accent. Plant in a sunny spot: the cultivar requires full sun to perform at its best and accepts a wide range of soils — sandy, loamy or clay — provided they remain moist but well-drained; it will also tolerate wet conditions. Hardiness is H4, which corresponds to average winter hardiness in the UK; growers in cooler or exposed situations should note that H4 indicates limited tolerance of the coldest sites. The equivalent USDA range is 8–10. Phormium tenax 'Dazzler' suits use as an ornamental specimen at the back of a mixed border, as a focal point in a gravel or contemporary planting scheme, or in a large container on a sunny patio where its clump retains an architectural shape. Regular moisture through the growing season encourages healthy foliage, and the summer flowering stalks provide clear seasonal interest from June to August.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Phormium

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Sandy, Loamy, Clay

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained, Wet

Exposure

Full sun

UK hardiness

H4

Plant details

Phormium tenax 'Dazzler' size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Evergreen perennial

Foliage

Evergreen

Height

3.0 m

Suggested uses

Ornamental, Borders, Containers

Native to

New Zealand

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Phormium tenax 'Dazzler'

Cultivation

Prefers moist but well-drained soil; tolerates wet conditions; plant in full sun for best leaf color

Pruning

Remove old or damaged leaves to maintain appearance; cut back flower stalks after blooming

Propagation

Division of clumps in spring or autumn

Frequently asked questions