Phormium tenax, harakeke or flax is indigenous to New Zealand and Norfolk Island. A broad circumscription has been adopted here - many botanists feel that plants from the Chatham Islands could be distinguished at species rank from the mainland New Zealand species, other distinctive variants occur on the Three Kings and outer Hauraki Gulf Islands, and along the Kaikoura coast. Norfolk Island plants are uniformly different in subtle ways from the New Zealand forms of P. tenax. Further study into this variation is underway.
It is commonly found from lowland and coastal areas to montane forest, usually but not exclusively, in wetlands and in open ground along riversides. Very commonly cultivated throughout New Zealand and in many parts of the world. However, most cultivated material available is a mixture of hybrid, variegated and/or colour mutations. The actual wild forms of the species are now rarely available in garden centres and nurseries, apart from specialist Native plant nurseries. A rigid upright flax from 1-3m high, which produces bronzy red flowers on flower stalks up to 5 m high Nov to Jan. Will tolerate a wide range of growing situations, from swamp land to normal garden conditions. It is hardy to frosts, tolerant of coastal winds. Maori had numerous uses for the flax leave fibres from making clothing through to making baskets and rope. Maori have drawn the abundant nectar from the flowers as a general sweetener. Many medicinal uses makes the plant even more important to the everyday health of Maori. Boiled and crushed harakeke roots are applied externally as a poultice for boils, tumours and abscesses, as well as to varicose ulcers. Juice from the pounded roots can be generally used as a disinfectant, and taken internally to relieve constipation or expel worms. It has also been applied to bullet or bayonet wounds. The gum-like sap produced by harakeke contains enzymes that give it blood clotting and antiseptic qualities to help healing processes. Maori are fully aware of its curative properties and that it is a mild anaesthetic, and apply the sap to boils and various wounds, to aching teeth, to rheumatic and associated pains, ringworm and various skin irritations, and scalds and burns. Splints can be fashioned from korari (flower stalks) and leaves, and fine cords of muka fibre utilise the styptic properties of the gel before being used to stitch wounds. Harakeke leaves make excellent bandages and can secure broken bones much as plaster is used today. The pulp of pounded leaves can also be applied as dressings. Oil from New Zealand flax seed was first commercially produced in 1993 by the Waihi Bush organic farm in the South Island of New Zealand flax seed oil has high levels of Omega-3, and provides an alternative to taking fish oil. New oil blends with other ingredients are being researched and produced. Flax seed oil that can be bought in many countries (aka linseed oil) is extracted from the seeds of the European flax, a plant that belongs to a completely different plant family.