Plant in full sun to light shade. Can tolerate fairly dry conditions (coastal) but looks best with occasional to regular irrigation. Hardy to 15-20 F. Possibly root hardy below these temperatures but with severe foliage damage unless protected.

Phormium 'Ed Carman' is a relatively new Flax cultivar that Bay Area horticulturalist Bob Hornback received from the late Ed Carman, the legendary nurseryman who owned Carman's Nursery in Los Gatos, CA. This story was that Ed brought the plant back from New Zealand but it was unnamed and he gave Bob permission to name it after him. We grew this plant from 2003 and thought it a fitting name to memorialize an amazing horticulturalist and continued growing it until 2011 but have since discontinued growing it – We are very sorry Ed! 

The information displayed on this page about Phormium 'Ed Carman' is based on the research we have conducted about it in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about this plant as it grows in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant have performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we have received from others and welcome hearing from anyone with information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information that will aid others to better grow it.