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Hardiness: USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Propagation Methods: By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets) From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting: Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds Seed does not store well; sow as soon as possible
On May 22, 2009, lehua_mc from Portland, OR (Zone 8b) wrote:
A previous owner of my property planted upwards of 5 or 6 in a side yard, meaning that a decade later I have the privilege of seeing them at their true HUGE mature size. They look so dainty in everyones pots! Our last wet cold winter killed or severely set back flaxes across Portland, but with a close crop two of mine seem eager to tell me they aren't dead yet. Personally, I'm not in love with them, they lose a lot of their special coloring when older and since mine are planted on a southern side of the property, just look like large dark masses.
On May 22, 2004, henryr10 from Cincinnati, OH (Zone 6b) wrote:
After being bombarded w/ these on the TV garden shows, they have finally started to appear in small quantities here in Cincinnati.
Large ones are still rather pricey though.
Look for the smaller 4" pots and you can get a deal though.
Lovely bronze foliage and quite sturdy they should make a strong statement.
I found them rather lax as youngsters but they developed that strong upright habit rather quickly.
In the Midwest the more sun the better.
Of course these will need to go in w/ the bananas and other 'tenders' come Winter.
On Aug 23, 2003, Happenstance from Fairfield, CA (Zone 10a) wrote:
Family name may be listed as Agavaceae or Phormiaceae, Giant New Zealand Flax has olive green foliage and can reach 6-10' high. Very easy to grow, cold hardy and impervious to wind. Makes a good screen.
On Nov 23, 2002, jkom51 from Oakland, CA (Zone 9b) wrote:
Here in zone 9 coastal Nor. CA. many local nurseries offer the P. tenax hybrids, which are more brightly colored and smaller, better sized for the urban gardens. They are a bit less cold-hardy than the bigger P. tenax, and need a bit of shade in desert temperatures. Once established they can be very drought-resistant, but can take water unlike many xeric plants, without crown rotting.
An evergreen clump forming plant from New Zealand.
Has lancelike-sword shaped, upright, rigid, dark green leaves. Bears long spikes of tubular, red-brick red flowers upto 2 inches long.
Flowers June-August but needs to be several years old before if begins its flowering stage.
Likes moist, well drained, fertile, soil in full sun. Only hardy down to 23F and will need mulch in winter in frost prone areas.
Good accent plants with many leaf colour forms.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Chowchilla, California Clovis, California Davis, California Huntington Beach, California Manhattan Beach, California Merced, California Oakland, California Redondo Beach, California San Leandro, California Stockton, California Venice, Florida Cincinnati, Ohio Portland, Oregon Kirkland, Washington Long Beach, Washington Seattle, Washington (3 reports)
One vendor has this plant for sale.
