Phormium tenax Jack Spratt - New Zealand Flax

The Phormium 'Jack Spratt', also known as the New Zealand Flax, is a vigorous dwarf variety that strongly resembles grass with dark colours and offers astonishing contrasts when paired with lighter plants. It has a dense tuft of finer leaves than other cultivars, upright and then arching, with a dark bronze purple colour with hints of red, chocolate, and olive green! This evergreen perennial is interesting for natural or contemporary gardens that are drier, planted in groups with silver or light green ground cover. Its reduced size is suitable for borders and smaller spaces or for planting in a container or pot on a balcony. Particularly exotic, it thrives in mild climates. Hardy up to -7°C (19.4 °F), it is recommended for coastal regions. Provide it with a sunny location in normal to moist soil that is well-drained.

The New Zealand Flax 'Jack Spratt' belongs to the Agavaceae family. It is a compact form derived from Phormium tenax, the larger of the two New Zealand species. This superb rhizomatous perennial grows into a small, non-spreading clump. It has an upright and erect habit, reaching about 45 cm (17.7 in) in height depending on growing conditions, with a spread of 50 cm (19.7 in). The leaves are thin, slightly arching, very long, somewhat stiff, and pointed at their tips. Tall flower stalks with red flowers appear from May to July, depending on the climate, surpassing the foliage. They take the form of curved tube-shaped flower spikes, which turn varying shades of bright red at maturity. This flowering attracts certain birds and numerous pollinating insects.

This Phormium is a plant of great ornamental value, suitable for borders or rockeries in mild climates. Whether used as a standalone specimen or planted in groups, it structures the space and adds a very exotic charm to the garden. Like grasses, it is also a wonderful perennial for a modern garden with clean lines. If you live in a cold region, you can keep the plant in a large pot on your terrace or balcony during the warm season, and move it to a cold greenhouse or minimally heated conservatory during winter to protect it from frost. In an urban garden, you can place the plant in large pots or containers to soften the look of concrete structures. For a unique and contrasting look, pair the plant with other plants such as Leptospermum scoparium, Helichrysum rosmarinifolium 'Silver Jubilee', Pittosporum tenuifolium Tom Thumb, or Olearia macrodonta 'Major'. You can also combine it with other plants like white hellebores and cistus, or silver foliage ground covers like artemisias and yarrows. The colours of large euphorbias will enhance the golden and green hues of its leaves, and the plant would look great with houseleeks covering the ground around it.In colder regions, it can be placed in a large pot on the terrace or balcony to admire its presence during the beautiful season and overwintered frost-free in a cold greenhouse or a minimally heated conservatory. In an urban garden, it softens concrete structures in large pots or containers. For an exotic and contrasting atmosphere, it can be paired with Leptospermum scoparium, a pink to red ball-shaped flower in summer, Helichrysum rosmarinifolium 'Silver Jubilee', Pittosporum tenuifolium Tom Thumb, or Olearia macrodonta 'Major'. Consider combining it with the white flowers of some hellebores and cistus or the silver foliage of ground covers like artemisias and yarrows. The acidic colours of large euphorbias will enhance the golden and green hues of its leaves. It would pair perfectly with the colours of houseleeks, forming a carpet at its base.

The Maoris use Phormiums, also known as New Zealand Flax, for their fibres in the textile industry.