Home : Palm-like and spiky
Palm-like and spiky plants
 

Architectural plants and structural plants add a different dimension to the garden and provide form throughout the year. This section of the website highlights some of our favourite spiky plants. The New Zealand Flax, for example, are drought tolerant, wind tolerant and will happily grow in coastal conditions. All of these plants make fantastic statements and are suitable for most gardens - just err towards the sunnier parts and avoid any areas prone to waterlogging. If you feel you need any further advice, please contact any of our helpful members of staff at the nursery.

Please click on the icons below to take you straight to the plant.

 
 
  Dasylirion serratifolium   New Zealand Flax, Phormium Alison Blackman   New Zealand Flax, Phormium Bronze Baby
             
New Zealand Flax, Phormium Evening Glow
  New Zealand Flax, Phormium Rainbow Queen   Mountain Flax, Phormium Tricolor   New Zealand Flax, Phormium Yellow Wave
     
     
Astelia 'Silver Spear'
Astelia Silver Spear
There are not many truly 'silver' plants in the gardening world, but this has to be one of them. To see a fully grown 'Silver Spear' on a bright sunny day is something to behold! The strap-like leaves reach around 120cm in height and spread and look like blades of metal emerging from the ground. It should be planted in full sun to take advantage of the silver sheen of the leaves. An excellent alternative to the Phormium.

 

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Dasylirion serratifolium
Dasylirion serratifolium
Dasylirion serratifolium is amongst some of the most dramatic and architectural plants. Thin strap-like leaves are covered with tiny spines along both sides, with the mature plant reaching a round 1.8 metres in height and spread. Suitable for a very hot, dry location where it will make a fantastic specimen. Suitable for the milder parts of the UK.

 

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Phormium 'Alison Blackman'
Phormium Alison Blackman  
Phormium tenax 'Alison Blackman', New Zealand Flax is a fantastic architectural plant. The boldly coloured leaves reach around 1.5 metres in height and spread. As with all New Zealand flaxes, it is tolerant of coastal conditions and exposed sites. They don't mind growing in pots and are very easy to maintain. Best sited in a sunny position and free-draining soil.
Phormium 'Bronze Baby'
Phormium Bronze Baby, New Zealand Flax  

Phormium tenax 'Bronze Baby', New Zealand Flax has long, dark purple foliage which forms a frothy mound of structural foliage. The eventual height is around 1.2 to 1.5 metres, with a similar spread. It makes an excellent container plant and a good companion to a large specimen plant such as an olive tree or palm tree.

Phormium 'Evening Glow'
Phormium tenax Evening Glow  
Phormium tenax 'Evening Glow', the New Zealand Flax has bold pink and red striped leaves but is a dwarf form, reaching around 1 metre in height. It needs to be sited in a sunny position to ensure that the best colours are encouraged, both in the ground and in a pot.
Phormium 'Rainbow Queen'
Phormium Rainbow Queen, New Zealand Flax  
Phormium 'Rainbow Queen' is a lovely flax with chocolate brown and pink striped leaves which needs a sunny position to retain is beautiful colouring. It should reach around 1.75m in height and makes an ideal architectural plant for the garden. It will happily grow in a pot where it can be admired on the patio or decking.
Phormium 'Tricolor'
Phormium Tricolor, Mountain Flax  
Phormium 'Tricolor' is a striking New Zealand Flax with very wide strap-like leaves, coloured with bold yellow and green striping. It has a more weeping habit than other Phormiums due to it being a cultivar of P. cookianum rather than P. tenax. It is one of the most tolerant Phormiums for damp sites and tends to grow wider than it does tall. It makes a very impressive specimen and is a clear favourite at the nursery.
Phormium 'Yellow Wave'
Phormium Yellow Wave, Phormium tenax  
Phormium 'Yellow Wave' is an excellent cultivar of Phormium with bright green leaves with random yellow striping down their length. To retain the best colour, this should be grown in full sun. It does not get as large as some Flaxes, reaching around 1.5 metres in height and width. Makes a very good container plant and is tolerant of exposed sites and drought.
 

The Plants

Bamboo plants - Banana plants - Big Plant Pots - Climbing plants - Conifers - Drought tolerant plants