Phormium tenax

A hardy, clump-forming evergreen perennial growing to around 5m tall with flower spike and 2m wide. Can be distinguished from mountain flax by its upright (versus twisted) seeds.

Olive-coloured leaves up to 3m long are held in fan-like rows. Red-yellow-pink flowers from spring to summer and seeds from summer to autumn. The rich nectar is attractive to bees and native birds.

Harakeke is tolerant of a wide range of conditions, and does particularly well in wetland areas. It is frost hardy.

Always choose healthy, well-grown, plants and plant after autumn rains, when the soil is moist and warm allows plants to establish a good root system well before summer. Planting is often improved on clay soils by adding extra topsoil and forming raised beds. Incorporate coarse sand, bark, peat, compost or other organic material to improve soil structure. Before planting, ensure the root ball is saturated and remove the planter bag or pot with minimal root disturbance. Trim any broken roots or damaged leaves off and plant at the same level as in the container. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the root ball to plant in. Long term slow-release fertilisers may be added at this stage. As soil is placed in the prepared hole tread firmly to bring soil in close contact with the root-ball. Unless the soil is very wet, water thoroughly making sure that moisture penetrates to the depth of the root-ball. Mulch with an organic mulch to help suppress weeds and retain moisture.

Apply an organic mulch annually to help suppress weeds and conserve moisture. Feed annually in spring with a balanced fertiliser such as blood and bone at a handful per square metre in spring as new growth begins. Divide and replant to revitalise plants that have started to look barren in the centre. This can be done in autumn to early winter and enables the new plants to establish while the soil remains relatively warm then plants can then burst into life the following spring. Dividing can be achieved by lifting the whole clump or digging pieces off from around the edge of the clump. Placing two garden forks back to back in the middle of the clump and then pushing in and forcing apart with the forks can be easiest. The resulting clumps can then be divided further either with forks or by hand. Cultivars are often best divided into clumps. The clumps should then be immediately re-planted in their new positions and watered in. People often divide clumps into fans, which is just one portion of the plant rather than a large section. This can be done also, plus you get far more plants this way but they just take longer to get to larger plants. Some people also like to trim the leaves diagonally. This helps with the establishment of the new plants as then the plants put more energy into root growth rather than leaf growth.

Flowers have nectar which provides food for birds such as tūī.

Mealybugs can be a problem with flax. They tend to make their home in the bottom of the leaves/fans. They get in between the basal leaves. They are tricky to eradicate but large numbers on small plants can have a detrimental effect. They can be carefully cleaned off with a cotton bud dipped in methylated spirits.

Native Identification Trail