Overview

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

About

Phormium tenax 'Rubrum' is an evergreen perennial from New Zealand grown for its tall, architectural presence, reaching up to 3.0 m. It flowers in the UK from June to August. Suited to full sun sites, it tolerates a wide range of soils provided they remain moist but reasonably well drained. Use it where a strong vertical accent is needed, such as in borders or large 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

Phormium tenax 'Rubrum' is an evergreen perennial native to New Zealand that provides a bold vertical element in temperate gardens. Plants commonly reach about 3.0 m, making them noticeable as single specimens or as repeated accents. In the UK it flowers from June to August, when tall flowering shoots rise above the foliage. Plant in a sunny, exposed position; the cultivar prefers full sun and will perform best where it receives strong light. It adapts to sandy, loamy or clay soils and will tolerate wet ground as long as roots are not waterlogged, so choose a spot with moist but well-drained conditions. Hardiness is rated H4, which equates to average winter hardiness across much of the UK, and it also corresponds to USDA zones 8–10. Its scale and form suit large borders, architectural beds and sizeable containers where there is room for its height. When positioning, allow space for a 3.0 m mature height so flowering shoots can rise without crowding nearby plants.

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 'Rubrum' size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Perennial

Foliage

Evergreen

Height

3.0 m

Suggested uses

Borders, Containers, Architectural plant

Native to

New Zealand

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Phormium tenax 'Rubrum'

Cultivation

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

Pruning

Remove old or damaged leaves to maintain appearance

Propagation

Division of clumps in spring or autumn

Frequently asked questions