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Phormium/New Zealand Flax Central Stem

BrixtonGardenerBrixtonGardener Posts: 73
in Plants
Not sure if this belongs in plants or problem solving, so apologies if it’s in the wrong section.

I’ve got what I think is a New Zealand Flax at the end of a garden I’ve recently moved into. I think it flowered last year, and now there’s a central stem, around 7 foot high, which I’m not sure what to do with. Is it better to remove it, or just leave it? I quite like the look, but not sure if it’s doing the plant more harm than good. Here are some pictures from this morning..


Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's the flowering spike  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BrixtonGardenerBrixtonGardener Posts: 73
    Thanks @Fairygirl! So will this flower from the same spike again, or is it a case of cutting it down and waiting for it to develop a new spike? It looks pretty brown and dead right now. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's not 'flowery' in the blousier way like other plants - the flowers are funny little tubular things, and it's not terribly exciting.
    Once it's done, you can just cut the spike of - right down near the base, or into the main bulk of the plant. They usually have just one spike from one plant.
    They only flower every so often, and when the conditions are right for them. It's quite early for it - but it's probably been prompted by the recent weather :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BrixtonGardenerBrixtonGardener Posts: 73
    Great, thanks for the advice, I’ll get that done today. Any other care/maintenance tips? I gave it a bit of a trim when I moved in so it’s pretty neat. The only thing I noticed today is the tips of the leaves seem to be browning, but not too severely.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They're fairly easy going. I don't do anything to mine other than cutting out damaged foliage after winter. I take those leaves out right back in at the base, leaving the best looking ones. Wind and rain, and winter weather makes them a bit shredded.
    Yours looks fine though - they like free draining soil generally, and a sunny site. It may just be a bit of weather damage on the tips. You can always cut those leaves out later if they become unsightly. 
    You can divide them if they get a bit big too, and that's very useful for the variegated ones, as they can lose their colour a bit. Some are better than others though. It can help rejuvenate them.
    I occasionally give mine a liquid seaweed feed in summer, but they only need a bit of help if they're in containers.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BrixtonGardenerBrixtonGardener Posts: 73
    Brilliant, thanks for your help. Just cut out the central stem and a couple of leaves that were looking worse for wear. Looking forward to seeing what it does when summer hits. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Good stuff  :) 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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