Re: Phormium tenax
Tim, that gives me courage. I had supposed that our climatic combination of
cold and wet would have seen it off without some protection. I imagine you
get no less rain than in E. Sussex so perhaps I amm being unnecessarily
cautious by wrapping in fleece.
Edward Faridany
----- Original Message -----
From: Tim Longville <tim@eddy.u-net.com>
To: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: 12 October 1999 18:43
Subject: Phormium tenax
Edward: Phormium tenax is tough as old boots. Populations all over the
UK survived the bitter cold spell during the winter of 95/6 when
temperatures fell in many places to -18C or lower. They certainly fell
to around -15C here for a week or more without a break, and my plants
were completely unharmed. P. cookianum is I think supposed to be
somewhat less hardy (??) but that, too, survived those temperatures.
(I hasten to add that these were mature plants, established for
several years. Probably mere yearlings would have been seen off.)
Tim
Solway Coast, Cumbria, UK
mild, moist, cool, -3C>28C
Tim Longville
