Overview

Phormium tenax 'Yellow Queen' 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 'Yellow Queen' 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 'Yellow Queen' is an evergreen perennial grown for its long, straplike leaves that form a strong architectural clump. It typically reaches about 3.0 m in height and produces tall flowering stalks in summer. The cultivar suits sunny, exposed sites and tolerates a range of soils from sandy to clay as long as they remain moist to wet. Flowering in the UK occurs from June to August.

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

Native to New Zealand, Phormium tenax 'Yellow Queen' is a member of the Asphodelaceae and has been cultivated for its bold, upright clumps of evergreen, straplike foliage. In the UK it performs best in full sun where the foliage can develop its sculptural habit; expect the plant to reach around 3.0 m overall height. Plant into soils that range from sandy through loam to clay, provided they are consistently moist or wet but not permanently waterlogged. The cultivar tolerates heavier soils better than many architectural perennials, yet good surface drainage helps avoid crown rot. It is rated H4 for UK hardiness (average), and corresponds to USDA zones 8–10, so give plants protection in colder inland sites or cultivate in a sheltered, sunny position. Use Phormium tenax 'Yellow Queen' as a focal point at the back of a border, in a large container on a patio, or as a structural element in contemporary planting schemes. Expect flowering stalks from June to August; remove spent flower stems at their base once they have finished to keep the clump tidy and allow the foliage to remain the main feature.

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 'Yellow Queen' 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 'Yellow Queen'

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