New Zealand flax

New Zealand flax
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Asparagales Family: Phormiaceae* Genus: Phormium Species: tenax
Binomial name
Phormium tenax
Some consider Phormium to belong to Agavaceae.

New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax), also known as Harakeke, is quite distinct from the Northern Hemisphere plant known as flax (Linum sp.).

Common throughout New Zealand particularly in swampy areas, it is also much grown in gardens as a decorative plant. A member of the lily family. The tough leaves are 1-3m long, up to 125mm wide. The woody flower stalks can be up to five meters high.