Plant of the Week: Phormium (New Zealand Flax)
Friday May 9, 2008
Phormium is a spiky, spectacular, sword-leafed evergreen perennial that makes a striking garden focal point or specimen plant. Some are small enough to use in containers, others can reach several feet in diameter and 7+ feet tall. The new hybrids dazzle in the garden in shades of pink, bronze, rich reds and dramatic stripes. If you’re looking for a standout plant, consider growing Phormium.
Photo: © Marie Iannotti (2008) licensed to About.com, Inc.
Comments
I planted a phormium 3/4 years ago in our new garden, beside our small pond. I has grown beautifully to a size I would now prefer it to stop at! It is about 7ft tall and looks splendid and currently in keeping with its surroundings. My concern is, will it grow much more? If so, regretably, it will be necessary to remove it. Any advice would be welcome.
It sounds like your phormium is very happy. Most top out at 6-8′, but it’s possible to have some varieties grow to 10′ tall.
You could try and control it by cutting back the older, taller leaves. They’re tough to cut, but a sharp knife should do it. New leaves will fill in.
Another option would be to lift and divide the plant, throwing away the overgrown center and replanting one of the crowns that develop on the outsides of the plants. Again, they’re not easy to lift once they reach a mature size. But at least it’s not an annual chore.
The best time to prune or divide is right about now, in the early fall.