Phormium Platts Black

Phormium 'Platts Black', also known as the New Zealand Flax, forms a fairly large dense and upright clump with remarkable foliage, ranging in colour from dark chocolate to black depending on the light. The relatively wide leaves are shiny on the top and satin on the underside, creating metallic reflections and a very sculptural visual effect. This characterful perennial is hardy down to -7°C in deep, fertile soil in a mild coastal garden, or place it in a large pot to bring indoors during winter.

The 'Platts Black' New Zealand Flax, like all Phormiums, belongs to the agavaceae family. It is a variety mainly derived from Phormium tenax, the larger of the two New Zealand species. This superb rhizomatous perennial slowly develops into a non-running, wide clump. With a very upright habit, it reaches an average height of 1.20m depending on growing conditions, with a spread of 1m or more in fertile and moist soil. The evergreen leaves are about 3 to 4cm wide, stiff and pointed at their tips. Tall flower stems of at least 1.30m appear from May to July, depending on the climate, towering above the foliage clump. They are tinted with purple-red and bear curved tube-shaped flower spikes, which turn a more or less bright red when ripe. This flowering attracts certain birds and many pollinating insects.

Phormium is a highly decorative plant, ideal for large spaces in borders or rockeries, in regions with mild climates. Whether you choose to plant it alone or in groups, it structures the space while bringing an exotic charm to the garden. To enhance this plant, associate it with silver ground covers such as Artemisia, dwarf Nepeta mussini, or carpets of blue fescues. Like tall grasses, the Phormium fits perfectly into a modern garden with clean lines. In colder regions, it can be grown in a large pot on a terrace or balcony, and then protected from frost in winter in a cold greenhouse or a minimally heated conservatory. In urban environments, it softens the look of concrete structures and creates an exotic and contrasting atmosphere when combined with rounder plants such as Pittosporum or Helichrysums.

The Maoris use Phormiums as we use flax, for their fibres in the textile industry. This is likely the origin of the common name "New Zealand Flax".