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How long do phormiums take to flower?

Ryan180680Ryan180680 Posts: 202
in Plants
We've had two planted in the garden for a couple of years now but they don't seem to be getting any bigger and they've not flowered. Are they slow growers and how long on average to flower? 

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    depends on the weather, your soil, the site , the variety etc etc
    I'd say " a couple of years" is quite a short time. They do have big root systems so perhaps they've been producing these before top growth?
    Devon.
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    edited March 2018
    I had one in a previous garden - it took about 5 years to flower. I've no idea whether that's 'normal' though
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Ours was around 5 years old when it flowered, caused great interest amongst the neighbours !
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    Maybe a lot depends on positioning , aspect and soil type . I planted three P.cookianum 'Tricolor' against a SW wall a few years ago ; they flourished and now flower every year . The purple leaved forms always seem reluctant , but the largest of them , Phormium tenax ( the large blue leaved one) needs to attain quite a size before it flowers . One word of caution though ; if growing near other plants the leaves can act like sabres in windy weather , literally beheading other more benign species .
    I eventually got rid of my P.tenax ; very difficult as the roots seemed substantial enough to anchor a battleship , and I resorted to a large wood-axe to cut through them .
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