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New Zealand Flax

About New Zealand Flax

Phormium tenax is native to New Zealand. It is an evergreen, clump-forming tender perennial. It grows in average, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. It makes a good container plant, providing height and color contrast.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Phormium tenax

Genus

Phormium

Family

Asphodelaceae

Order

Asparagales

Also known as

New zealand flax and New zealand hemp

How to care for New Zealand Flax

💦 Water

How often to water your New Zealand Flax

New Zealand Flax needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for New Zealand Flax in your home

New Zealand Flax love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

New Zealand Flax does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of New Zealand Flax in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize New Zealand Flax

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for New Zealand Flax: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your New Zealand Flax after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Hey this plant is struggling when another the same 2 metres away is thriving what’s wrong with it #MountainFlax

Browse #Flax

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

New Zealand Flax is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

How to Grow New Zealand Flax →

Benefits of Growing New Zealand Flax →

Common New Zealand Flax Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for New Zealand Flax →

💦 Water Needs

New Zealand Flax prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

New Zealand Flax Water Frequency →

New Zealand Flax Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

New Zealand Flax requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

New Zealand Flax Light Requirements →

New Zealand Flax Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

New Zealand Flax is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🪴 Soil

New Zealand Flax does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for New Zealand Flax →

Best Pots for New Zealand Flax →

When and How to Successfully Repot New Zealand Flax →

What Are Healthy New Zealand Flax Roots →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

New Zealand Flax grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

New Zealand Flax Lifecycle →

New Zealand Flax Size Guide →

How and When to Prune New Zealand Flax →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
New Zealand Flax can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 8a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

New Zealand Flax Temperature Tolerance →

New Zealand Flax Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with New Zealand Flax →

When to Plant New Zealand Flax →

How to Plant New Zealand Flax →

Where to Plant New Zealand Flax →

Winter Care for New Zealand Flax →

Best Companion Plants for New Zealand Flax →

Is New Zealand Flax a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in New Zealand Flax, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.