Phormium Tenax
Denise >
New Zealand Flax (Phormium Tenax) does indeed originate in New Zealand. There they are found in coastal areas, often forming impenetrable thickets. They have shallow but extensive roots, and the long broad ribbon-like leaves extend directly from a narrow base. In favourable summers, long flower stems grow rapidly, each bearing bracts of flowers which, with plentiful nectar, large seeds, and even to provide a convenient perch, attract many small birds – which often have a tell-tale daub of brightly coloured pollen on their heads! At the end of summer, the flower stems dry and harden, and can remain upright for two or three years more, remarkably resistant to wind and storm.
Abrasion of the leaves from being jostled together by the wind results in the leaves being frayed at the edges, with whisps of the fine – but extremely strong – fibres becoming detached. Historically, the Maoris used these fibres in making clothes and other articles – and thus the plant’s English common name is explained.
And before you ask, yes, we could, but we haven’t. Neither time nor inclination. The fibres are certainly not soft!
New Zealand Flax was brought to the UK in the 19thC, but introduced to the Outer Hebrides only within the past 20-30 years or so, I believe. Here, in the islands, the climate is very similar to it’s native environment on the far side of the world, and so it thrives – id only in gardens: for some reason it doesn’t propogate naturally in the wild.
In our walled garden, Phormium Tenax has proved invaluable in absorbing the energy of the wind during storms. It grows rapidly to provide very effective shelter (and without causing the turbulence associated with hard fences or walls), and lends height, shape and drama where we struggle to grow native trees.
We have a number of different varieties, some cultivars having variegated leaves (which tend to be the shorter and more slow-growing plants), others with purple, brown leaves, but the majority have green leaves (although the green varies too).
The shape and habit of the leaves doesn’t vary much, but the flower stems certainly do: there’s tall (up to four metres!), upright and straight ; there’s flailing-about-in-the-wind deep red ; there’s plain ‘n’ purple ; there’s twisted and yellow-orange ; and there’s more besides, but we haven’t found a method (or the time) for categorizing them all!
The only cultivar name we know amongst them is Sundowner – a medium sized plant with variegated bronze and cream leaves, and golden flower petals. It’s also the only variety we have which can be relied on to behave nicely in a confined area – and not end up whipping us around the legs with wet leaves, or smacking visitors in the face with wayward flower stems!
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That was some very interesting information here. I imagine it’s good to find anything that can stand up to intense winds. Thank you for sharing this.
D > So many folk think the ancient high wall around the garden makes it completely sheltered in here. The reality is a lot lot more complicated, but the key point is that the walls create a lot of turbulence – which can be violent!
That is an interesting fact on it’s own. One would not think it so.
I certainly would’ve asked about using it to spin and weave, if you hadn’t put that to rest!
Very intresting to see one of very prolific and hardy native plants flourishing on youislands which appear to be as windy as or islandsin the Pacific. Yes stripping the green flesh off the fibres was lengthy and labour intenie, but it was all they had until European traders arrived.
D > Thanks for the fact-check!
Thank you for this. Thank you for the post and the warnings. I have thought about getting some NZ flax, and still fancy some, but will have to consider well where to put it!
My heavens can you imagine making fiber from those tiny leaves. Historical Flax was used here to produce Linen, which also is very labor intensive. In our neck of the world the Prehistoric Indians use Yucca plants for clothing. All very fibrous and intensive to create from.
D > The leaves aren’t tiny. On the larger plants they are about 3″ wide and up to 6ft long! If prepared correctly, each fibre can be that long, and there could be several hundred fibres in just one leaf. A lot of work: but they didn’t have many other options!
OH! They are LARGE!
How handsome these plants look – and how practical! I’ve never heard of New Zealand Flax before …. and am wondering if I should import some to our windy Northumbrian garden …..
D > I highly recommend that you at least try some, and see how they work for you. Best is to buy plants that are about a foot tall (they may be bigger plants with the leaves cut down to that length for posting). They don’t like competition when small, so best is to cover the roots wwith a much mat or the sods you cut out turned over. Water frequently until clearly putting out new growth (new leaves emerging from base). If you are wanting a wind-break, then look for a tall variety: Sundowner would be too small. We use different heights in tiers, so as to get an attractive effect. A warning, though: in storms the leaves do thrash about, so anything planted around a big plant needs to be either another phormium, or someting that retreats into the ground for the winter – like Crocosmia.