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 our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We 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.