Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants
Herbaceous Perennial

Phormium 'Gold Ray' (v)

flax lily 'Gold Ray'

An evergreen, clump-forming perennial to 2m tall, with upright or arching, sword-like, mid-green leaves with greyish green stripes and creamy yellow margins, sometimes tinged orange. Panicles of yellow flowers on erect leafless stems may be produced in summer

Synonyms
Phormium cookianum 'Gold Ray'
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
1–1.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green Yellow Orange
Summer Yellow Green Yellow Orange
Autumn Green Yellow Orange
Winter Green Yellow Orange
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Drought resistance
Yes
Hardiness
H4
Botanical details
Family
Asphodelaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
Genus

Phormium are evergreen perennials, making a large clump of leathery, strap-shaped leaves, with tall panicles of small, tubular flowers in summer

Name status

Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows best in fertile well-drained soil in full sun. May need the protection of a deep, dry winter mulch in northern and frost-prone areas

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Architectural
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Gravel garden
  • Sub-tropical
  • Low Maintenance
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Dead or damaged leaves may be removed in the spring

Pests

May be susceptible to phormium mealybug

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.