New Zealand Flax
Phormium 'Amazing Red'
New Zealand Flax
Phormium 'Amazing Red'
- Phormium ‘Amazing Red’, commonly known as New Zealand Flax, is a bold, upright plant that brings rich color and strong structure into the landscape. It’s a great choice when you want something that adds height and contrast without feeling bulky.
- The foliage is made up of long, narrow, arching leaves in deep red to burgundy tones. The color holds well throughout the year and becomes more intense in full sun, creating a strong visual presence.
- It forms a tight, upright clump that adds vertical movement and works well as an accent or repeated element in a design. Compared to wider phormiums, this variety has a slightly more refined, narrower leaf, which gives it a cleaner look.
- It works well in modern, Mediterranean, and coastal designs where bold foliage and clean lines are key.
- Phormium ‘Amazing Red’ grows best in full sun to partial shade and prefers well drained soil. Once established, it is fairly drought tolerant and adaptable to a range of conditions.
- It typically reaches about 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, forming a compact, upright clump. It is well suited for USDA zones 8 through 11. The foliage is evergreen.
- This plant has low toxicity and is generally a safe choice for gardens with pets and children.
- The flowers may attract pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds, though it is primarily grown for its foliage.
- It is generally deer resistant.
- Phormium ‘Amazing Red’ fits especially well into Mediterranean, modern, and coastal garden designs, where its color can be used to create contrast and vertical structure.
- It pairs well with plants like Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Silver Sheen’ to lighten and soften the palette, Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’ to echo red tones while adding blooms, and Sedum ‘Cape Blanco’ to introduce a low, silvery ground layer that balances the darker foliage.
- Expert Tip:
- I like using this as a vertical accent to break up lower, mounding plants. Also, placing this up against a lighter color wall makes the architecture pop. This benefits from a seasonal cleanup of dead leaves at the base.
- — Nick from Rooted Theory
Foliage:
Evergreen
Mature Width:
2-3'
Form:
Grasslike
Mature Height:
3-4'
Bloom Season:
Infrequent
Proper planting technique will help your plants thrive! Follow these simple steps to help your plants establish quickly, develop a strong root system, and live longer:
- Properly dig the hole
- Amend the soil to suit each particular plant
- Place the plant and backfill the soil
- Provide ample water for each particular plant
- Review our how to plant guide!
For detailed information, please download our planting guides: