Phormium tenax 'Dusky Chief'
Dusky Chief New Zealand Flax
Description
New Zealand Flax is an excellent accent plant for the garden. Evergreen leaves are long, narrow, and grow upright. Clusters of flowers grow on spikes above the foliage in late spring and summer. 'Dusky Chief' will reach 3'-5' tall and wide. It has beautiful leaves 2"-3" wide with reddish leaves and gray undersides. This plant just glows when backlit. Tolerates coastal conditions.
Plant Type
Shrub
Height Range
3-6', 6-12'
Width Range
Flower Color
Red, Yellow
Flower Season
Summer
Leaf Color
Red
Bark Color
n/a
Fruit Color
n/a
Fruit Season
n/a
Sun
Full, Shade
Water
Low
Growth Rate
Fast, Moderate
Soil Type
Unparticular
Soil Condition
Average, Well-drained, Dry
Soil pH
Neutral
Adverse Factors
n/a
Design Styles
Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish, Tropical
Accenting Features
Unusual Foliage
Seasonal Interest
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Location Uses
Background, Shrub Border, Foundation, Patio, Park, Parking Lot, Raised Planter, Roadside, Swimming Pool, Walls / Fences
Special Uses
Cut Flowers, Erosion Control, Hedge, Screen, Mass Planting
Attracts Wildlife
n/a
Water Saving Tip:
Dig-up patches of weeds and undesirable grasses from turf areas.
Use water to grow the turf you want, not the weeds you don't want! Once you have eliminated what you don't want, add sod or over-seed to repair the bare areas.