Plant in full sun to light shade. Can tolerate fairly dry conditions (coastal) but looks best with occasional to regular irrigation. Cold hardy to 15-20° F and possibly root hardy below these temperatures but with severe foliage damage unless protected. A nice looking dark maroon colored strap leafed plant that looks great in the garden or in a container.

Phormium 'Rubrum' was introduced in the US by Malanseuns Pleasure Plants of South Africa. A great little red flax with an unfortunately confusing name as there have been many cultivars and seed strains with the name "Rubrum". We have grown this cultivar since 1995 and originally received it as a dwarf form that would grow to 2-3 feet tall but have seen it reach this height and then some in containers. Now we list it as growing to 3-4 feet but in 2003 we had reports from a customer that this plant can get even taller, more like 4-5 feet tall. A beautiful mass planting of this cultivar that was installed in May 2010 in the City of Santa Barbara's Xeriscape garden at Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden has remained at around 3 feet tall and looks great! 

Information displayed on this page about Phormium 'Rubrum' is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.