Search Utilities Plant Database Search Plant Name Detail Search Search by size, origins, details, cultural needs 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  2023 PLANTS PRIME LIST   for SEPTEMBER  Weather Station

Products > Phormium 'Electric Black Light' PP21,462   Phormium 'Electric Black Light' PP21,462 - PP21,462 Note: This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.     Habit and Cultural Information Category: Perennial Family: Phormiaceae (~Xanthorrhoeaceae) Origin: New Zealand (Australasia) Evergreen: Yes Red/Purple Foliage: Yes Bloomtime: Infrequent Height: 1-2 feet Width: 3-4 feet Exposure: Sun or Shade Seaside: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F Phormium 'Electric Black Light' PP21,462 (New Zealand Flax) - New Zealand Flax cultivar that forms a dense clump of leaves that reach slowly upwards to 2 feet tall - the slightly arching leaves are nearly black with a red edge and have a fine waxy coating. 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. This is the slowest and darkest of all the New Zealand Flax we have every grown - darker and smaller than 'Platt's Black' and Black Adder but unforunately it did not grow well for us. This plant was discovered in 2004 by Mal Morgan of NuFlora International in Macquarie Fields New South Wales, Australia. It was the result of crossing two unnamed Phormium tenax plants in 2002 as part of a breeding program intended to create new Phormium varieties that were compact and had interesting colors. This plant received U.S. Plant Patent 21,462 on November 9, 2010. The patent application noted that this plant was characterized by dense compact growth habit, overall short plant height and extremely dark foliage color that has a waxy texture to the top surface of the foliage.  This information about Phormium 'Electric Black Light' PP21,462 displayed is based on research conducted in our library and from reliable online resources. We will also note observations that we have made about it as it grows in the gardens in our nursery and those elsewhere, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others, and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing it.     [MORE INFO]