Phormium tenax An Important Plant For An Arid Climate And Mediterranean Garden
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By Jonathan Yaakobi
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Those of us who garden in the relatively unfavorable conditions of a dry, Mediterranean climate should always be on the look out for a garden plant that not only is suitable for many design situations, but is also fairly easy to grow. One such plant is the New Zealand Flax, Phormium tenax.
Although belonging to the lily family, Phormium has a form and habit which classifies it as an ornamental grass-like plant. It has stiff narrow leaves which stand out from the center just like a true grass. It can reach a height of some 2 meters, covering a radius of about a meter or so.
It is ideally suited as an accent or emphasis plant, and even as a focal point, billowing out from a carpet of pebbles, or prostrate ground cover plants. It can also be used together with a group of ornamental grasses. As such Phormium can be very useful, for while true grasses like Pennisetum or Miscanthus need to be cut down to the ground once or twice a year, it looks good virtually all the year round, thereby holding the bed while some of the other species are in their off season.
Phormium tenax as its common name implies, grows wild in New Zealand, a country that enjoys a wet, temperate-warm climate. Despite this, it is suitable for dry climates, requiring modest additions of water through the hot, arid season. It is hardy to the lowest temperatures that a Mediterranean climate is likely to suffer, but in the hotter regions (where summer highs are over say 32c) it should be grown in light shade. Its stiff leaves make it hardy to strong winds and sea spray.
The New Zealand Flax can be grown in most soil types, provided that there is adequate drainage. From my experience, plants can rot and die if drainage is poor and the roots stand in water for too long. They also have a preference for slightly acidic conditions, something that is often hard to come by in Mediterranean climates. However, the soil pH (acid-alkaline scale) can be easily and satisfactorily adjusted by incorporating large quantities of well-rotted compost into the ground.
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Author Bio Box: Jonathan Yaakobi
 My name is Jonathan Ya'akobi.
I've been gardening in a professional capacity since 1984.
I am the former head gardener of the Jerusalem Botanical Garden, but now concentrate on building gardens for private home owners.
I also teach horticulture to students on training courses.
I'd love to help you get the very best from your garden,
so you're welcome to visit me on http://www.dryclimategardening.com
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