Phormium tenax Black Velvet

The Phormium hybrid 'Black Velvet' is a variety of New Zealand Flax that forms a relatively large, dense, and spreading clump with remarkable foliage of a dark purple, almost black, depending on the light. The reasonably broad leaves are shiny on the top and satin on the underside, creating metallic reflections and an architectural visual effect. Hardy down to -7°C, provide this characterful perennial with deep, fertile soil and the mildness of a coastal garden, or plant it in a large pot to bring indoors in winter.

Like all Phormiums, the 'Black Velvet' New Zealand Flax belongs to the agavaceae family. It is mainly derived from Phormium tenax, the larger of the two New Zealand species. This superb rhizomatous perennial develops slowly into a sizeable non-running clump. With a very upright habit, it reaches an average height of 1.50 to 1.80 m depending on growing conditions, spreading 1.20 m or even more in fertile and moist soil. The evergreen leaves are about 3 to 4 cm wide, stiff and pointed at their tips. Their colour, more pronounced when the plant grows in full sun, is a dark purple, almost black. Depending on the climate, tall flower stems of at least 1.30 m appear from May to July, towering above the foliage clump. They are tinted with reddish-purple in the form of curved tube-shaped spikes, which turn more or less bright red when mature. This flowering attracts certain birds and many pollinating insects.

The Phormium is a very decorative plant, ideal for large spaces in borders or rockeries, in regions with a mild climate. Whether you plant it alone or in groups, it contributes to structuring the space while bringing an exotic charm to the garden. To enhance this plant, associate it with silver ground covers such as Artemisia, dwarf Nepeta mussini, or carpets of blue fescues. Like tall grasses, the Phormium fits perfectly into a modern garden with clean lines. In colder regions, it can be grown in a large pot on a terrace or balcony and then protected from frost in winter in a cold greenhouse or a slightly heated conservatory. It softens concrete structures in urban environments and creates an exotic and contrasting atmosphere when combined with rounder plants such as Pittosporum or Helichrysums.

The Maoris use Phormiums, like we use flax, for their fibres, which are used in the textile industry. This is probably where the vernacular name "New Zealand Flax" comes from.