Water Wise Plants

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Phormium tenax 'Amazing Red'

Pronunciation

FORM-ee-um TEN-ax

Common Name

New Zealand Flax 'Amazing Red'

Plant Type

Perennial

Mature Size

3 ft. wide and tall

Water Requirements

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Sun/Shade Requirements

Full to half sun

Wildlife

Hummingbirds

Flower Color

Red (but grown more for foliage)

Maintenance- Design- Planting Tips

'Amazing Red' is one of the smaller Phormium cultivars. The sharp texture and brownish-red color of the leaves makes this plant an excellent focal point in the perennial bed.

Some Phormiums revert to the brownish color of the species after several years. 'Amazing Red' has held its color in the demonstration garden for six years and for ten years in some Master Gardeners' personal gardens.

To maintain, prune out dead leaves at their base, but don't try to reduce size of Phormiums by cutting back the leaves. Unlike grasses, Phormium leaves won't grow back, leaving stubby unattractive leaves.

PADG notes: Though it is supposed to be small, in the demonstration garden this plant has grown to about 3 feet high and wide in six years, larger than expected. The plant has not bloomed.

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