New Zealand Flax

Phormium tenax

Xanthorrhoeaceae

▲▼ red-leaved form

▲▼ red-leaved form

▲ green-leaved form starting to flower

Phormium tenax:  New Zealand Flax

Location near campus:  along fence on south side of Master Gardener areas north of Botanical Center Building in Nathanael Green park at the Botanical Center.

·         not a true grass, but a semi-evergreen (or ever-bronzy-red) foliaged plant with 2-6 foot long leaves that are 1-2 inches wide

·         when flowering (not common in Missouri) has flower stems similar to canna with red or  yellow flowers

·         marginally hardy here—Zone 7 at best, so may freeze out

·         prefers full sun, moist, but well-drained soil

·         leaves are used by Maori of south Pacific as a fiber source for textiles, ropes