Phormium Tenax

Phormium tenax "is a spiky, sword-leafed evergreen perennial that is used as a garden focal point or specimen plant," says Marie Iannotti. Although treated as annuals in northerly climes (or brought indoors for the winter), Phormium tenax plants can be quite useful in landscape design. For instance, Marie suggests using them to create a contrast "with low growing, delicate foliage, such as perennial geraniums and coreopsis."

While there's nothing wrong with simply enjoying a garden for its flowers, it's easy to recognize the telltale signs when people have put just a little extra thought into garden design. The presence of a plant such as Phormium tenax is just such a telltale sign. Folks who plant Phormium tenax demonstrate an appreciation for the importance of having interesting textures in the garden. Once you start playing with textures to create contrast, the gardening experience leaves mere amusement in the dust and ascends to a level we can fairly term "fascination."