Search Utilities Plant Database Search by Plant Name Advanced Search Search by size, origins, color, cultural needs, etc. Website Search Search for any word Site Map Retail Locator Plant Listings PLANT TYPE PLANT GEOGRAPHY PLANT INDEX ALL PLANT LIST PLANT IMAGE INDEX PLANT INTROS SPECIALTY CROPS NEW  2021 PLANTS PRIME LIST   for JANUARY  Weather Station

Products > Phormium 'Ed Carman'   Phormium 'Ed Carman' - New Zealand Flax Note: This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.   [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Perennial Family: Phormiaceae (~Xanthorrhoeaceae) Origin: New Zealand (Australasia) Evergreen: Yes Variegated Foliage: Yes Flower Color: Insignificant Bloomtime: Spring/Summer Height: 2-3 feet Width: 2-3 feet Exposure: Sun or Shade Seaside: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F Phormium 'Ed Carman' (New Zealand Flax) - New Zealand Flax cultivar that grows upright to 2 to 2 1/2 feet tall with 2" wide dark bronze-green leaves edged with narrow bands colored light pink to white. 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. A new (2005) cultivar that Bob Hornback received from the late Ed Carman, the legendary nurseryman who owned Carman's Nursery in Los Gatos, CA. This plant was apparently brought back from New Zealand by Ed but was unnamed and he gave Bob Hornback 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 on this page is based on the research that we have conducted about this plant in the San Marcos Growers library, from what we have found on reliable online sources, as well as from observations made of our crops of this plant growing in the nursery and of plants growing in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens where we may have observed it. We also have incorporated comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from those who may have additional information, particularly if this information includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Phormium 'Ed Carman'.     [MORE INFO]