Phormium 'Bronze Baby' (New Zealand flax 'Bronze Baby')

Botanical name

Phormium 'Bronze Baby'

Other names

New Zealand flax 'Bronze Baby', Phormium 'Redi Babe', Phormium 'Bronze Beauty', Phormium tenax 'Bronze Baby'

Genus

Phormium Phormium

Variety or Cultivar

'Bronze Baby' _ 'Bronze Baby' is a clump-forming, evergreen perennial with leathery, sword-shaped, upright to arching, bronze to maroon leaves. Tall panicles of tubular, bronze to red flowers are seldom produced.

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Clump-forming

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Colour

Flower

Yellow-green in Summer

Foliage

Red, Bronze in Summer

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Phormium mealybug

Diseases

Generally disease free.

General care

Propagation methods

Division

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Phormium 'Bronze Baby' (New Zealand flax 'Bronze Baby') will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.6m after 2-5 years.

Suggested uses

Architectural, City, Coastal, Beds and borders, Gravel, Low Maintenance

Cultivation

Grow moist, well-drained, fertile soil in full sun, will also tolerate partial shade. Foliage may be damaged by cold winds and hard frosts.

Soil type

Sandy, Loamy

Soil drainage

Well-drained, Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Partial Shade, Full Sun

Aspect

North, South, East, West

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Tender in frost (H3), Hardy (H4)

USDA zones

Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Phormium 'Bronze Baby' (New Zealand flax 'Bronze Baby')

Common pest name

Australian grapevine yellows; Australian lucerne yellows; Australian yellows of grapevine

Scientific pest name

Candidatus Phytoplasma australiense'

Type

Phytoplasma

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

Phytoplasma present in Australia and New Zealand which could be damaging to grapevine and strawberry production; in particular; if introduced to the UK. EU regulations help to mitigate the risk of entry.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/