New Zealand Flax – Phormium tenax

Common Name: New Zealand Flax, New Zealand Hemp

Botanical Name: Phormium tenax, FOR-mee-um TEN-ax

Decorative Life: 5-14 days.

Flower Color: Green, Purple, Red, White

Availability: Year Round

• As a member of the Agavaceae (agave family), some of its common relatives include dracaena, tuberose and yucca.
• Native to New Zealand.

• Leaves are up to 36 inches long, narrow, pointed and often multicolored.
• Plant is a herbaceous perennial, classed as a monocotyledon.

50F.

• From the Greek “phormion” (mat) referring to the fiber produced from the leaves.
• The specific epithet name tenax means strong or tenacious, referring to the strong fiber.
• Important species for its leaf fibers.
• Good for linear aspects of design, works well with tropical flowers.