Plant in full sun to light shade. Can tolerate fairly dry conditions (coastal) but looks best with occasional to regular irrigation. Cold hardy to 15-20° F and possibly root hardy below these temperatures but with severe foliage damage unless protected. A nice looking dark maroon colored strap leafed plant that looks great in the garden or in a container.

Phormium 'Rubrum' was introduced in the US by Malanseuns Pleasure Plants of South Africa. A great little red flax with an unfortunately confusing name as there have been many cultivars and seed strains with the name "Rubrum". We have grown this cultivar since 1995 and originally received it as a dwarf form that would grow to 2-3 feet tall but have seen it reach this height and then some in containers. Now we list it as growing to 3-4 feet but in 2003 we had reports from a customer that this plant can get even taller, more like 4-5 feet tall. A beautiful mass planting of this cultivar that was installed in May 2010 in the City of Santa Barbara's Xeriscape garden at Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden has remained at around 3 feet tall and looks great! 

The information about Phormium 'Rubrum' that is displayed on this web page is based on research conducted in our nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We will also include observations made about this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We also incorporate comments that we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they share cultural information that aids others growing this plant.