PHORMIUM TENAX SUNDOWNER

Phormium tenax ‘Sundowner’ is a New Zealand flax cultivar that stands out for its extraordinary beauty and warm, vibrant foliage. This variety is highly prized for its sculptural appearance and its shades of colour ranging from deep red to bronze, creating a dynamic and suggestive visual effect. It is ideal for modern gardens, coastal or exotic landscapes, where it can act as a decorative focal point. The leaves of ‘Sundowner’ are long, ribbon-like and robust, arranged in a tuft and slightly arched towards the tip. The colour of the leaves varies from warm, vibrant red in the areas most exposed to the sun, with shades of bronze and gold that intensify with the arrival of the summer season. This play of colors creates a fascinating contrast, giving the plant a scenic presence. The habit is erect, with a compact and well-defined shape that makes ‘Sundowner’ also suitable for growing in pots or for being used as a single plant in borders. Phormium tenax ‘Sundowner’ grows up to 1.5⤔2 metres in height, with a similar width, reaching a size that allows it to dominate the space without being cumbersome. The plant develops in the shape of a fan, with leaves that are distributed harmoniously starting from the centre, maintaining an orderly structure that does not require frequent pruning. Flowering, although not particularly abundant, can occur during the summer, with erect flower stems that produce small tubular flowers of red-copper tones, appreciated by pollinating insects. However, the main ornamental value of this variety lies in its extraordinary foliage, which remains decorative all year round. Phormium ‘Sundowner’ is a resistant and versatile plant, which easily adapts to different types of soil as long as they are well-drained. It prefers sunny exposures, which best enhance the richness of its color, but it also tolerates partial shade. It is resistant to drought, wind and saltiness, which makes it ideal for coastal gardens or areas with an arid climate. In areas with cold winters, it is advisable to protect it or grow it in a pot so that it can be moved to a more sheltered place. Due to its elegance, vibrant color and ability to adapt to different environmental conditions, Phormium tenax ‘Sundowner’ is an ideal plant for those looking for a decorative and resistant variety of flax, capable of enriching the garden with an exotic and sophisticated touch.