Phormium tenax Rainbow Striped Hybrids - seeds

Phormium tenax Rainbow Striped Hybrids or New Zealand Flax is a tall perennial plant grown for the beauty of its long lanceolate leaves striped with multiple colours.

As its name suggests, Phormium tenax Rainbow Striped Hybrids is native to New Zealand where it grows in marshy meadows, riverbanks, and near the coast. The European climate is cooler in winter, so it should be planted in a warm and sunny location in moist but well-drained soil. It can withstand temperatures down to -5°C (23°F), beyond which its crown should be protected with a good layer of mulch and winter cover. In the coldest regions, grow it in a pot will to allow the plants to be brought indoors for winter protection.

New Zealand Flax forms a large clump of V-shaped, folded lanceolate leaves. The clump can reach heights of 150 to 180cm (59 to 71in). The colours are diverse and vary from one plant to another. There is pink, cream, purple, yellow, and green.

The flowers of Phormium tenax Rainbow Striped Hybrids appear in summer in the form of red-purple panicles carried by long, sturdy stems. The flowers are tubular and matte red.

In the garden, Phormium will fit well in the back of a flowerbed alongside other perennial plants, as a solitary specimen in the middle of a lawn, or in a large pot on the terrace.