Phormium tenax
Harakeke
Asphodelaceae
June to August
It is scattered throughout the country but is most common
in the Southwest, the Northwest and around London.
For a map see the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland –
It is a neophyte from New Zealand and was introduced into
the UK in the 1770s. It is grown throughout the country as
a large architectural garden plant especially in coastal
areas.
The escape is naturalised and established on waste ground,
cliffs and sand dunes, particularly in Cornwall and the Isles
of Scilly.
New Zealand-flax is a rhizomatous, evergreen perennial
forming large clumps.
Flowers are in panicles up to 4m high.
The flowers are tubular, brownish-red and up to 4cm.
The perianth tube is made up of 6 fused tepals. The outer
tepals are dark red and the inner greenish-yellow with
recurved tips.
There are 6 stamens with dark red filaments and yellow
anthers.
There is a single style with a small stigma.
The fruit is a slightly twisted, dark brown capsule up to
9cm.
Seeds are large, black, numerous and fertile,
especially in the Isles of Scilly.
The leaves are dark green with a prominent mid-rib.
They are robust, fibrous and up to 3m long.
Compare with Lesser New Zealand-flax.
New Zealand-flax has many uses in New Zealand as
described in this Wikipedia link.
Previous page: Nettle-leaved Bellflower
Next page: New Zealand Holly
New Zealand-flax before flowers
open, West Dorset
Flowers on long spike
Group of tubular flowers
6 stamens, 1 style and outer and
inner tepals
New Zealand-flax with seed pods
Curved seed pods
Seed pod and seeds
Leaves
Leaves showing midrib
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