Phormium NZ flax ID please

[Palm crazy]

I love this red Phormium, can anyone ID the variety, Cali or New Zealanders experts?    http://rogersgardens.com/design-ideas/

 

 

Edited December 23, 2015 by Palm crazy

[Gonzer]

I'd guess Phormium 'Firebird'.

[Palm crazy]

5 minutes ago, Gonzer said:

I'd guess Phormium 'Firebird'.

Thats what I was thinking too, I never see ‘Firebird' up here in WA, just the large Pink ones. There’s also another cool colored one called ‘Paradise’ I like to get too. 

Edited December 23, 2015 by Palm crazy

[Palm crazy]

Actually I think it might be something else, I just found this one and it looks like this is the one I am looking for…’Guardsman’.

http://plantlust.com/plants/phormium-tenax-guardsman/

[WestCoastGal]

It's Firebird. If you click on the image there's a text bar that pops up. Says, "the bronzy colors of Phormium 'Firebird' combines nicely with Leucodendron 'Safari Sunset'"....

When we were picking out our phormium selections I found San Marcos Growers website helpful. Here's their info on Firebird: http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=1250  and on Guardsman: http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=1253 . We ended up going more to the green/bronze side in our landscaping. Also added three varieties of leucodendron to our yard. Those do well for us here but suspect too cold for you up north. 

If you are looking for other other red plants for your area for winter color, are you familiar with Nandina domestica 'Moyers Red'? Variety of heavenly bamboo that really turns a nice red come winter. Ours is all red now. It's also one of the taller varieties growing 5-6 feet I think. I can post a photo if you like.

[Palm crazy]

Debbie thanks for noticing the name, I stand corrected, and thanks again for the SMG website!  I’ve seen ‘Guardsman’ before up here but not ‘Firebird’.  Up here NZ flax does best in full sun. In two much shade they can rot if it gets to cold and they need the sun to grow back. 

I have tried some Leucodendron and plan on getting one again but will grow in a pot. My favorite is L. ‘Jester’.  http://www.australianplants.com/plants.aspx?id=1332  I did get it to live a few years but the teens kill it.  The foliage is to die for! 

Nandina are very popular here but haven’t seen that one before, I just may have to look into Moyer Red, since I love bright colorful foliage. This one would look great next to my Aucaba shrub, the contrast would be awesome in winter. 

Thanks again Gonzer and Debbie. 

[WestCoastGal]

You're welcome. We had some P. 'Tom Thumb' planted along our driveway area that we absolutely loved and all of them and several P. 'Ed Carman' kept getting mealy bugs (common issue). All were planted in full sun/partial sun. Kept changing up the drip irrigation to them, tried treatments, but after the second year yanked the 'Tom Thumb' due to the mealy bug issue. The 'Ed Carman' seem to be doing better so are still there. I think our phormium were either planted too low so the roots got too wet or the irrigation was too much for drainage or placed too close to the roots. Phormium are grown all over our area and it killed me to pull the 'Tom Thumb' so I'm sure the problem is specific to our set up. But I can see with the amount of rain you get there that rot could be a problem. 

BTW I started a thread on our 'Moyers Red' nandina. Might help you decide if you go that route. We are growing 3 varieties of Leucodendron (Red Gem, Maui, and Summer Red). Really enjoy seeing them change colors throughout the year. Once in the ground they do tend to spread out fairly quickly. Not sure if they would be well behaved potted plants for long.

[Bazza]

I've been lusting for some Phormiums to use in my landscape projects here for years!

I'm talking about the full size ones...the original green version or what I learned in school as "Purpurea" - the large Bronze variety.

None of my suppliers offer them here - even the places who deal with Monrovia.

I'm convinced that if I were to source some and implement them on a few of my local landscapes it would raise the bar higher than anyone else could reach!

I keep thinking if I knew someone on the west coast where they are so prevalent, who could buy some in a smaller size (6' or gallon) or get some divisions, and stick them in a box without soil wrapped in sphagnum maybe, and ship them Fed Ex ground - that would be one way to source some.

Does this idea have merit? If so - any takers? Of course I'm willing to pay whatever the cost is plus more for the assistance.

Feel free to PM me if you want or email me directly: barry@sandpiperconcepts.com

To me there's nothing quite like those large spiky leaves to make a statement in a landscape! ;)

[Bazza]

Making progress.......

 

[Bazza]

They arrived today - will plant tomorrow......finally!