What does NZ flax look like?
New Zealand flax is one of the country’s most distinctive native plants. It has sword-shaped leaves 1–3 metres long that grow in a fan shape. In spring, birds – particularly tūī – flock to feed on the nectar of its tube-like flowers, which bloom on stems up to 4.5 metres long.
Is New Zealand flax poisonous?
The blades of the plant contain cucurbitacins, which are poisonous to some animals, and some of them are among the bitterest tastes to humans.
Does New Zealand flax flower every year?
New Zealand flax is dependably hardy and evergreen in USDA zones 9 to 11, but gardeners in zones 7 and 8 may find that the plants return each spring after dying back if they are heavily mulched for the winter. More often, cold-weather gardeners grow them as potted plants that are moved to shelter for the winter.
Can you eat New Zealand flax?
The seeds are highly edible. When white or green they are sweet and meaty. When black and shiny they are bitter. The sweet ones are nice on their own or sprinkled on a salad.
What does the flax plant look like?
The leaves, alternating on the stalk, are small and lance-shaped. The flowers, borne on stems growing from the branch tips, have five petals, usually blue in colour but sometimes white or pink. The fruits are small dry capsules composed of five lobes. Flax (Linum usitatissimum) in bloom.
How do you look after flax plants?
Cut off dead and damaged leaves as needed. The flax thrives in poor soils, so fertilization is not necessary, but annual top dressings of finely rotted compost can help add nutrients to the soil and increase percolation. New Zealand flax plant care is easiest to manage in containers in northern climates.
Can you eat flax flowers?
In times gone by it was used not only for its edible seeds, but for its fibers for weaving as well. The beautiful feathery leaves on stems about two to three feet tall will produce an abundance of lovely “true blue” flowers.
Does New Zealand flax flower?
New Zealand flax plant information indicates that tubular, showy flowers appear on erect stems but only in their native region and rarely in greenhouse care. New Zealand flax plants offer architectural interest but are not winter hardy and should be brought indoors for winter in most climates.
Will flax grow in pots?
Flax plants should be started in mid-to-late spring. They grow well in the ground and in containers, and do well in fairly crowded conditions, making flax a great option for a smaller space or container garden. A good mulch and daily watering will help these plants thrive.