Thursday, July 29, 2010

Strappy

I'm not sure if you would call 'strappy' a texture, but that is what this New Zealand flax (phormium tenax) adds to the garden. Sometimes it is hard to find easy to grow, medium sized plants that interest and color, but flax seems to fit the bill in our climate. I grow all kinds of different ones to reflect the color scheme in a garden bed (see yesterday's post) or as an accent in an otherwise ho-hum area. It is actually easy to forget about them, they are that carefree! They will grow in sun or partial shade, although their colors fade a bit in the shade. They do bloom and put on quite a show with the tall flower stalks that the hummingbirds love. Nice!

5 comments:

danger garden said...

I love Phormiums, had quite a few beautiful established plants until back to back cold winters did them in. Now I only grow them in containers where they can be protected. Yours in the photo is beautiful, makes me jealous!

Catharine Howard said...

I definitely like strappy. A strong onomataeaic (wooops cant spell) word.

Shyrlene said...

Cool texture - 'strappy' is a great way to describe the look; the contrast with surrounding plants really makes it pop.

Karen said...

'Strappy' sums it up! What a great plant. You have two gardens? My, oh, my you must have a lot of energy! Karen

Shirley said...

I've never seen New Zealand Flax flower! Perhaps our seasons are just too short here. I really hope you will post photos of the blooms.