I recently attended a seminar on plant patents by a California based company called PLANT HAVEN. Plant Haven patents plants for growers assuring that the creator and developer of the plant are compensated for there plant when it hits the market. One of the plants they spoke about was this gem the Phormium Jester. What a stunning plant it is with its bright cherry color. The following is a description of the plant courtesy of San Marcos Growers. We hope toi see this stunner in our nursery this spring!

Phormium ‘Jubilee’ PP19,059 – A New Zealand Flax cultivar that grows to 3 with slightly arching long leaves that have a green center and pinkish-red margins on the upper surface and are entirely red below. Plant in full sun to light shade. Can tolerate fairly dry conditions (coastal) but looks best with occasional to regular irrigation. Hardy to 15-20 F. Possibly root hardy below these temperatures but with severe foliage damage unless protected. A very interesting color combination and a bit stronger with less reversions than the parent plant, Phormium ‘Jester’. This plant was discovered by Arroyo Grande nurseryman Christopher Chaney who in 2000 purchased a plant labeled Phormium ‘Red Heart’, known in the trade as Phormium ‘Jester’, from Monterey Bay Nursery where he then worked as an outside salesman. Phormium ‘Jester’ is an attractive cultivar that is predominantly pale red on its upper surface with narrow green margins. Mr. Chaney divided his plant but noted one of his divisions had a fan of leaves with the reverse coloration, having strong red margins and a green central stripe on the upper surface and an entirely red underside. In 2003 he selected and rooted this fan and has since subsequently propagated repeatedly from the original, using the method of division. It was co-introduced into the nursery trade by Chris Chaney and Monterey Bay nursery and received a U.S. Plant Patent in July 2008. It is marketed in the U.S by PlantHaven. The description above is based on our research and observations of this plant growing in our nursery and in our own and other Santa Barbara gardens.