Practical uses for flax
New Zealand Flax, the native Phormium tenax, is an excellent plant to include in the forest garden. Not only does it grow in almost all conditions from wet to dry and full sun to shade, flax has some great practical applications.
The plant produces tall flower stalks that feed native bell birds. These stalks can be over 2 meters long and can be used for poles in the garden. While not as long lasting as bamboo, the flax poles decay after a season or 2, they are extremely light and easy to work with.
The flax leaves contain extremely tough fibres making them ideal fro tying and weaving. From simple rope to intricate baskets, woven mats and dental floss, the flax leaves and fibres are very versatile and durable.
I use flax constantly for tying and training plants. Being biodegradable is an added bonus as it breaks down into the soil and trees tied with flax will not strangle.
The plant produces tall flower stalks that feed native bell birds. These stalks can be over 2 meters long and can be used for poles in the garden. While not as long lasting as bamboo, the flax poles decay after a season or 2, they are extremely light and easy to work with.
The flax leaves contain extremely tough fibres making them ideal fro tying and weaving. From simple rope to intricate baskets, woven mats and dental floss, the flax leaves and fibres are very versatile and durable.
I use flax constantly for tying and training plants. Being biodegradable is an added bonus as it breaks down into the soil and trees tied with flax will not strangle.
Related
Natural woven flax weed mat
Details
Here's a simple technique for reducing weeds in a small garden. Biodegradable woven flax mats with seeds or small plants added in the gaps.
Date
September 11, 2018
Preparing the flax strips for your square basket
Details
This design requires 2 sets of an even number (4, 6, 8 etc.) to create the square base and parallel sides. These 2 sets will be woven together at right angles or perpendicular to one another.
The larger the number of strips the bigger the floor area of the basket will be and the shorter the walls can be. Using more strips increases the difficulty and time involved in fabrication.
Making a very small basket (2 sets of 4) is fiddly so start with 2 lots of 6 as demonstrated here.
Split the flax leaves into strips of a uniform width between 15 and 25mm. The wider the strips the more they will shrink as they dry resulting in a basket with more gaps. Smaller strips can be woven tighter and produce a smaller but tidier and stronger basket.
The larger the number of strips the bigger the floor area of the basket will be and the shorter the walls can be. Using more strips increases the difficulty and time involved in fabrication.
Making a very small basket (2 sets of 4) is fiddly so start with 2 lots of 6 as demonstrated here.
Split the flax leaves into strips of a uniform width between 15 and 25mm. The wider the strips the more they will shrink as they dry resulting in a basket with more gaps. Smaller strips can be woven tighter and produce a smaller but tidier and stronger basket.
Create a simple flax basket
We will teach you how to weave a traditional Maori square basket. Made from natural flax fibre grown at blockhill, this simple pattern can be used to create baskets of various sizes.
Identify, harvest and prepare flax leaves before weaving your own small basket to take away.
Identify, harvest and prepare flax leaves before weaving your own small basket to take away.
1 hour
$40.00
How to weave a simple flax basket
Flax is an easy to grow New Zealand native with heaps of uses around the garden as well as the flowers being a food source for bellbirds during late spring and early summer.
Follow basic step by step instructions and guidance to learn what you need and how to create your own woven flax basket.
Follow basic step by step instructions and guidance to learn what you need and how to create your own woven flax basket.
NZ Bronze Flax
Common name
NZ Bronze Flax
Date
July 15, 2012
Details
Broadly spreading, evergreen. Broad drooping or stiffly erect bronze to purple blades. Erect flower stalks attract tuis and bellbirds.
Evergreen
Forest layer
shrub
Height (m)
2
Botanical name
Phormium purpureum
Wind tolerance
High
Creating the corners of the flax basket
Details
The 4 corners of the basket are located at the mid point along each of the 4 sides of the square, half way between each of the red pegs. This is why 2 sets of an even number of strips is required, so that the side can be divided in half.
The 3 on the left are woven through the 3 on the right, continuing the weaving pattern of over - under to create a vertical triangle. Clip the tip of the triangle to hold it.
Repeat this process with the remaining 3 corners so you have 4 of these triangles rising from the flat floor of the basket
The 3 on the left are woven through the 3 on the right, continuing the weaving pattern of over - under to create a vertical triangle. Clip the tip of the triangle to hold it.
Repeat this process with the remaining 3 corners so you have 4 of these triangles rising from the flat floor of the basket
New Zealand Flax
Details
Useful to tying materials. Loved by bell birds and other nectar feeders.
Botanical name
Phormium tenax
Height (m)
2-4
Forest layer
shrub
Evergreen
Propagation method
Division
Wind tolerance
High
Shade / Sun
Full sun - Shade
Soil type
Most
Flowers
Orange
Tools and equipment required for creating a simple woven flax basket
Details
Flax is very fibrous and tough, a good sharp pair of garden hand pruning secateurs are the ideal tool for cleanly cutting the leaves to length. Collecting and preparing flax without modern metal tools must have been rather difficult.
Working with the long, slippery strips can be difficult in the beginning. Clothes pegs are helpful for holding corners and edges while you work, helping prevent things coming apart while you work. If you don't have pegs on hand (the early Maori certainly didn't) you can create your own from the thick base of the flax leaves. Cut short pieces and add a slit.
Working with the long, slippery strips can be difficult in the beginning. Clothes pegs are helpful for holding corners and edges while you work, helping prevent things coming apart while you work. If you don't have pegs on hand (the early Maori certainly didn't) you can create your own from the thick base of the flax leaves. Cut short pieces and add a slit.
Flax planting
September 13, 2008
The recent wet period has left plenty of indication where water collects and runs. Today we filled in some of the damper gaps between the trees with native flax. One day their flowers will attract Bell Birds and possibly Tui.
Update - This planting project was abandoned as the land acquisition fell through. Subsequently the grass smothered almost all the plants.
Flax Kete Weaving Notes
Working with flax to make a nice, usable bag. This is a truly sustainable creation.
May 20, 2017