The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

This ((these) plant(s) flowers early summer to mid summer according to my sources. Does it flower every year? I have been waiting for my plants to flower since I have been in my present locale in July last year. I have only seen one flower stem on one plant out of hundreds that grow here.

Hi Kath, for what it's worth the Harakeke in the Kapiti and Wellington area has hardly flowered this year at all, possibly as low as 2% of plants I monitor. Last year however the plants were prolific with their flowering. I think they mast like many other New Zealand Flora.

Hi Kath, similar pattern reported by Matt occurred in Southland this year and last year. Yes, Phormium is a masting species along with NZ beech, Chionochloa and a few others. It's all about how warm the summer preceding the seedfall is.
I know Lloyd Esler in Southland has been recording the flowering stalks produced each year on the flax in his garden - you might find it interesting to talk to him.

Thanks for that information ... any further reports from other areas would be welcome. Would this be called 'masting' or 'biannual'? Only J T Salmon gives a flowering time (none given in Moore and Edgar) Does it occur often?

Hi Kath, the short answer to your question is that both species flower in most years. However a fan that produces a flower spike dies, so a heavy flowering such as that seen last year can be expected to have a negative impact on flowering in the following year. Most of my planted flax flowered in this season although sparse