Phormium Tenax Rainbow Queen Flax Lily

Phormium Tenax Rainbow Queen is a striking evergreen perennial grass with green-red leaves and long yellow flowers on spikes. It’s an excellent coastal plant that suits low-maintenance spaces and prairie planting.

Phormium Tenax is native to New Zealand’s coast, where its long strappy leaves provide cover for animals including the endangered yellow-eyed penguin. Phormium Tenax is better known as Flax Lily in the UK and its cultivar Rainbow Queen is synonymous with Phormium Maori Queen.
Phormium Rainbow Queen is named for its rigid, arching strappy leaves that are bronze-green with red stripes. Its foliage grows in a clump and if it soaks up enough sun in late spring to early summer yellow flowers on long spikes appear in August.

Flax Lily Rainbow Queen is a tough but beautiful ornamental grass that suits flower borders and containers equally. It’s an excellent coastal plant and ground cover.

Height and Spread of Phormium Tenax Rainbow Queen
Flax Lily Rainbow Queen reaches a maximum height and spread of one metre.

How Hardy Is Phormium Tenax Rainbow Queen
This is a hardy ornamental grass but it needs very well-drained soil to cope with cold conditions.

How to Use Phormium Tenax Rainbow Queen
Flax Lily Rainbow Queen is an excellent low-maintenance coastal plant because it copes with wind and salt sprays. It’s also excellent in drought-prone gardens and low-maintenance spaces that welcome wildlife. Try pairing it with RHS AGM-winning Flax Lily Sundowner or Pink Stripe for a grassy border with lots of colourful impact. Phormium suits Mediterranean-style gardens, country cottage spaces and urban courtyards with its architectural leaves and height. It will also thrive in a well-watered and drained container on a sunny balcony or patio.

How To Care For Phormium Tenax Rainbow Queen
Flax Lily Rainbow Queen prefers well-drained soils and copes well with the chalky and sandy areas often found in coastal areas. It will flower well in full sun and prefers a sheltered spot. It does best in mild coastal areas because it does not like consistently wet foliage and cold, soggy roots.
As winter approaches, give Phormium Rainbow Queen a thick layer of protective mulch and prune out damaged leaves right down to the base in spring to encourage a dry crown and make room for new growth.