Colour is shouting out from the Phormiums on the nursery. Autumn may be just around the corner but they are refusing to accept the cooler weather without a fight. They are the Peacocks of the coastal garden.

This evergreen perennial grows freely on hillsides and riverbanks of New Zealand and holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (AGM), for plants of outstanding excellence. It needs a sunny, well-drained spot in the garden, thriving especially well in an exposed, coastal garden. This would be an excellent specimen plant for a border, providing a focal point. They are also incredibly low maintenance if you are looking to plant a garden that pretty much will look after itself.

The Phormium tenax is a spiky, upright form coming in many different colours including a green & yellow variegation (P. variegatum), purple (P. purpureum) and pink (P. Sundowner)! Other varieties of Phormium are more pendula than upright and produce a much softer looking perennial. Favourites of mine include P. Tricolor which has a striking dark green stripe in the foliage complemented by a canary yellow variegation and P. Yellow Wave which has a subtler green and yellow variegation. The pendula varieties do not grow to the height of the Tenax and require less space within the garden and border. Tall erect stems of sub tropical looking tubular flowers are produced from within their centre during the warmer months of the year providing an exquisite and show stopping display..

For foliage, you cannot go far wrong and if you have a sunny aspect with good drainage, on the coast then this is the one for you.

Victoria Hardaker