New Zealand Flax

An evergreen shrub, usually 2-3m high with sword-shaped leathery leaves. These leaves produce a strong fibre suitable for ropes, paper etc. They can also be used as twine merely by splitting and using fresh; or whole for basketry.

Phormiums start to flower in June and these flowers are filled with a delicious, sweet, edible nectar. The Maori used to collect this nectar in Gourds to use as a sweetener, or sucked it out using a hollow grass stem.

Likes sun or part shade; tolerates exposure and suitable for hedging. Bee plant. Hardy to -12°C; naturalised in SW England.