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Products > Phormium cookianum
 
Phormium cookianum - Mountain Flax
   
Image of Phormium cookianum
 
Habit and Cultural Information
Category: Perennial
Family: Phormiaceae (~Xanthorrhoeaceae)
Origin: New Zealand (Australasia)
Evergreen: Yes
Flower Color: Yellow
Bloomtime: Spring/Summer
Synonyms: [Phormium colensoi]
Height: 3-4 feet
Width: 3-4 feet
Exposure: Sun or Shade
Seaside: Yes
Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F
Phormium cookianum (Mountain Flax) - This New Zealand Flax species grows to 4-5 feet tall with wide spreading 2 1/2 inch wide olive-green leaves that arch gracefully. This is the parent that gives the arch to many of the hybrids. Yellowish-orange flowers bloom on long spikes that, unlike the vertical flower spikes of Phormium tenax, angle out from the plant's crown. The seed pods, looking like long black bean pods, are decorative and can weigh the inflorescence back nearly to the ground. Seed pods are useful in large flower arrangements. Plant in full sun to shade. This Phormium can tolerate fairly dry conditions (coastal) but looks best with occasional to regular irrigation. Hardy to 15-20 F. It is possibly root hardy below these temperatures but does suffer severe foliage damage unless protected. This is a very nice large understory shade plant. In our garden is even grows well under the heavy shade of a large Citrus Tree.  Information displayed on this page about  Phormium cookianum is based on the research conducted about it in our library and from reliable online resources. We also note those observations we have made of this plant as it grows in the nursery's garden and in other gardens, as well how crops have performed in our nursery field. We will incorporate comments we receive from others, and welcome to hear from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if they share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
 
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