Popping Phormiums

Pop in some dramatic phormiums to change the mundane into the extraordinary. They simply demand to stand out from the rest!

Phormiums, commonly known as flaxes, are old friends in the garden. They provide strong texture between other plants with their curving or upright-growing swordlike leaves. The species are native to New Zealand, where the locals put them to practical use like making fibre for mats and ropes.

While the species form huge clumps, the development of modern-day cultivars has given us access to smaller plants with exceptionally colourful foliage, and they have many ornamental uses in the landscape. You can plant them in groups between grasses, as single specimens in mixed shrub beds, near water features, in gravel gardens, as contrast to large-leaved tropical plants, or you can use some of the bigger varieties individually in large containers where they will always look graceful and smart, requiring very little maintenance. These plants are mainly loved for their foliage but sometimes, mature plants will produce long blooming stalks topped with sprays of very nectar-rich flowers in red, yellow, or orange depending on the variety.

Growth notes for Phormiums

Most varieties are cold hardy and resistant to light frost.
They tolerate windy conditions in coastal gardens well.
Full sun is fine but some varieties prefer light shade in the afternoon.
Enrich the soil with compost and make sure it drains well.
Regular watering is beneficial to keep them lush and healthy. No harm will come if the soil dries out for short periods between watering sessions.
To keep them neat, simply remove old leaves on the outside of the clumps now and again.

Here are Phormiums to plant and a grass-like pairing for each:

1.’Rainbow Queen’

‘Rainbow Queen’ has erect flared leaves slightly bent at the tips. The olive-green leaves are striated and margined with bright rose pink. Leaf edges can fade to yellow and cream, but all colours intensify in winter. Size: 1.2m x 80cm.

Great companion: Large groups of Carex buchananii ‘Red Rooster’ growing in dense tufts will be a perfect companion with its wiry bronze foliage with the reddish-bronze tips.

2.‘Amazing Red’

‘Amazing Red’ grows upright with slightly arching, lustrous, dark red leaves. You need a few of these in a high-profile spot. Size: 80 x 60cm.

Great companion: Swathes of wild garlic Tulbaghia violacea ‘Silver Lace’ with silver-blue leaves edged in white will be perfect. It forms thick clumps flowering prolifically in spring with tall stalks bearing delicate lilac pink flowers.

3. ‘Pink Stripe’

‘Pink Stripe’ is bold and large, forming thick clumps of long, sword-like dusky-green leaves edged in clear pink. Size: 1.5 x 1m.

Great companion: Although this gorgeous phormium can make it alone in a large container, imagine it popping up repeatedly between patches of Aristida junciformis (nGongoni grass) with its soft texture and an abundance of mauve plumes in summer!

4.‘Yellow Wave’

‘Yellow Wave’ is an old favourite with robust growth providing basal rosettes of elegantly arching broad, straplike leaves that can be up to 1m long. They are generously striped with cream, butter-yellow and lime-green. This phormium likes to be in light shade in very hot gardens. Size: 1.2 x 1.5m.

Great companion: A brightly hued phormium such as ‘Yellow Wave’ needs something serene at its feet to tone it down. Surround it with a dense carpet of Ophiopogon jaburan (dwarf lilyturf or mondo grass), which forms thick clumps with narrow, straplike dark green leaves.

5.‘Ruby Tuesday’

‘Ruby Tuesday’ will pop with vibrant burgundy red leaves and with a size of only 1.3 x 1m is perfect for small focal spots in limited space.

Great companion: Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ (Japanese sedge), with its striking yellow-and-green striped foliage, is just what is needed to complement bold burgundy red leaves. This highly recommended ornamental grass has narrow arching leaves.

Phormiums in pots

Phormiums in pots will need a monthly feed of liquid fertiliser. They seldom need to be replaced or repotted. Each spring, you should remove the top layer of old potting soil from their pots and replace it with a fresh layer of compost as a treat. Mulch around the plants with well-decomposed pine needles or pine bark as they like slightly acidic soil.