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Phormium ‘Maori Chief’

06 Oct 2005

General information

Cultivar name:

Phormium ‘Maori Chief’ (Syn. ‘Rainbow Cheif’)

Originator:

Selected by Mrs M Jones, New Zealand Flax Hybridisers, Tauranga about 1981 from seedlings raised from Phormium Rainbow Hybrids seed marketed by Mr J. Burton of Hamilton.

Publication:

Name validated by Heenan (1991) See description below.

Parentage:

 

Leaf colour

Colour group:

Red variegated

Upper surface:

Bronzy-green with a pale midrib that is purplish-pink lower down. There are stripes of pinkish-red mainly towards the outer edges of the leaves and the margins are orange.

Lower surface:

More bluish-green, the pink stripes are less well defined and the margins and midrib are orange.

Comments:

Older leaves tend to change towards green and cream. Very similar to 'Sundowner'.

 

Growth form

Shape group:

Spreading

Leaf length:

< 100 cm

Leaf width:

< 6 cm

Comments

 

Flowers and fruit

Flowers:

 

Pictures (Click to enlarge)

 

 

Published descriptions

HEE This plant is a large and clumpy with spreading leaves, 1.2-1.5 m X 6-7 cm, central area bronze-green with pink-red stripes inside each margin.
SMG A robust upright plant to 6 feet tall with 2 1/2" wide green centered rose-red margined leaves which arch at the tips. A more refined plant but similar to than 'Sundowner'. Stable.
HOR ‘Maori Chief’, at five feet, is the largest (of the Maori hybrids); it has strong upright leaves that arch at the tips. Its wide green leaves have rose-red margins.
   

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