Big Bronze Phormium
Bronze PHormium
In the small garden between the decking and the house I planted a big dark bronze Phormium, with a Mutabilis rose climbing up the house wall behind. Red dahlias kept on appearing in front of it each summer, as did the perennial Forget-Me-Not Alkanet.
Such a beautiful colour, and such a beautiful shape in the beginning. Winter snow storms caused the first problems - the weight of snow flattened the Phormium leaves, and I tried to get it back on track by trimming the lower ones off. Then in summer it would perk up again, and build its tall flowering stems (reaching to the upstairs balcony). These were too heavy and so the Phormium would break open at its base. But I loved the colour, so I'd allow it to stay for another year.
Too Big?
I must have known that the Phormium would get too big for its position - but would I ever have the nerve to cut it out? Answer - yes, absolutely yes! The last big snow-storm convinced me. But I was canny - I sliced down all the flattened leaves but left the root ball. In no time the Phormium began to re-sprout, and in no time it was seriously big again! Oops...
Early photographs are so deceiving. In them the Phormium looks the perfect size for its position along the side of the house. Not so. Oh dear. In the autumn of 2011 I realised it was simply too big, was always going to be too big, and I dug it out (with help from Non-Gardening Partner). I threw the root clumps by the fence-line and, sure enough, they quickly re-sprouted. I replanted them, further from the house.
Bronze Flax - 2009
But some gardeners never learn. One year, not so long ago, I released a bright green species Phormium from its pot and planted it just a bit further along, to fill up a gap in the garden. Oh joy. So many things I shouldn't have done! The rose Mutabilis then shrugged its shoulders and died back to almost nothing (not enough sun).
Maple and Green Phormium
And is the new green Phormium getting too big? Yes. Sort of. Oops.