Phormium cookianum Blondie

The Phormium cookianum 'Blondie' unfolds into a superb variegated fountain of light. A beautiful architectural plant, this modest-sized variety stands out for its gracefully trailing habit and the unique brightness of its long, slightly spiralled, cream-yellow leaves margined with green. With its resemblance to a giant Chlorophytum, this evergreen plant offers a particularly exotic appearance in the garden throughout the year, including its summer flowering with erect spikes adorned with highly nectariferous tubular flowers. 'Blondie' prefers the mild and humid climates of the oceanic facade when planted in the ground. It will also thrive in a large container, to be overwintered in cool climates. 

The Phormium cookianum, or mountain flax, belongs to the agavaceae family, just like its cousin the Phormium tenax, and both are native to New Zealand. However, the former shows less growth, is slightly less hardy, and prefers cooler, fertile soils. The recently obtained cultivar 'Blondie' in New Zealand is a compact form with trailing habit and variegated foliage. This superb rhizomatous perennial grows in a non-invasive clump. With an erect and gracefully arching habit, it reaches a height of approximately 60 cm depending on the growing conditions, with a spread of 50 to 60 cm. The leaves are quite slender, arched, flexible, slightly twisted, pointed at their ends, and notably trailing. Each leaf has a pale yellow to cream central area margined with green. Floral stems measuring at least 1 m appear from May to July, depending on the climate, overhanging the clump of foliage. They are green tinted with yellow and orange, arranged in curved flower spikes in the shape of tubes. They are followed by the formation of trailing spiralled fruits. This flowering attracts certain birds and many pollinating insects.

This Phormium is a plant of great ornamental value, particularly suitable for embellishing large pots due to its trailing habit. In the ground, it may be disappointing in Mediterranean climates, but splendid on the oceanic facade of our country. Used as a specimen or planted in groups, it structures the space and adds a very exotic charm to the garden. Like grasses, it is a wonderful perennial for a modern garden with clean lines. In colder regions, it can be placed in a very large pot on the terrace or balcony to admire its elegance in the summer and overwinter it frost-free in a cold greenhouse or a lightly heated conservatory.  In an urban garden, it softens concrete structures. It can also be paired with purple foliage such as certain Japanese maples, physocarpus, or Pittosporum. 

The Maoris use Phormiums as we use flax, for their fibers that are exploited in the textile industry. This is likely where the vernacular name 'New Zealand Flax' or 'Mountain Flax' comes from.