Reinwardtia

( rine - WAR - tee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Yellow Flax or Pyoli, this shrubby perennial plant needs full sun to partial shade and moderate to regular water. Reinwardtia indica is the sole species in the genus, which is a member of the Linaceae plant family.  Plants typically will reach 3 feet tall and are native to the mountain regions in Pakistan and China. Plants are profuse bloomers, with yellow flowers that can appear as early as late winter (in mild regions) and fade in fall. Each flower lasts just a day, but is quickly replaced by a new blossom. Leaves are green to greyish green and evergreen. Yellow Flax grows well in zones 8-10, 12-24, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Caring for Reinwardtia

Reinwardtia, or Yellow Flax, plants perform best when situated in a warm spot that receives full sun to light shade. The more sun these plants get, the better they will flower, but they do appreciate some late afternoon shade, especially in warmer climates. Ensure that soil is well-draining, fertile, and has a pH of between 5.5 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Water newly planted Yellow Flax regularly to help it develop them strong root systems. At maturity, these plants are drought-tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone with some supplemental waterings in the warmest months of the year. Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Halfway through the blooming season, plants can be deadheaded to extend the flowering period. In summertime after plants finish flowering, cut the plants back by half to encourage a more bushy form.

Propagation

Reinwardtia, or Pyoli, can be propagated by division, cutting or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division or cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Reinwardtia, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Reinwardtia by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Reinwardtia by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 4-6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new plant.

Propagating Reinwardtia by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
  1. Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
  2. Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
  3. Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
  4. Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.

Problems and Pests

Reinwardtia, or Pyoli, ​plants can be susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape:
  • Root Rot
  • Red Spider Mites
  • Aphids
  • Mealybugs
  • Aster Yellows
  • Gray Mold
  • Powdery Mildew
For more information on these pests and diseases, including how to treat and prevent them, consult the following pages:

Gallery

Reinwardtia flowers are butter yellow.
A nursery specimen.
Reinwardtia plants are valued for their evergreen foliage as well as their happy yellow flowers.

Videos

How to grow Yellow Flax.

Resources

Yellow Flax
Reinwardtia indica
Reinwardtia (Yellow Flax)
Wikipedia: Reinwardtia
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 000 - 000, Reinwardtia Indica