Guardsman New Zealand Flax

Guardsman New Zealand Flax

We’re usually hesitant to use the word “best” in a description but we really feel like Guardsman is the very best of the many New Zealand Flax cultivars. Worth growing it for the colors alone with its deep purple, almost black highlighted by red stripes! Looks like it should be the official Phormium of the Portland Trail Blazers. How many NBA teams have their own New Zealand Flax mascot, a flax-cot if you will! Anyways, this beauty grows to a monstrous 8-10′ but is very slow to offset, which is why this cultivar has been such a prized rarity for so long. Dame Time meets the Phormium prime and we couldn’t be happier!

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Latin Name: Phormium tenax ‘Guardsman’
Site and Soil: Tolerant of many soil conditions so long as they are well draining
Hardiness: 15º Fahrenheit
Size at Maturity: 8-10′ x 6′
Bloom Time: Summer
Pests & Diseases: None
USDA Zone: 8