Wharariki
Endemic to New Zealand Phormium cookianum is a very useful plant for any native planting.
Despite its common name the New Zealand Mountain flax Phormium cookianum is found throughout New Zealand from sea level to 1300m in among scrub and grasses, along stream-sides and on coastal and mountain slopes.
Phormium cookianum is smaller than the New Zealand flax Phormium tenax and has drooping leaves. Phormium tenax leaves are more stiff and erect.
The seed heads of the Phormium cookianum are also drooping and not erect and angled like P.tenax.
The flowers are a source of nectar for the native birds, especially the tui and the bellbird.