The best fire starters we have discovered are our flax bush flower spikes. A friend told us when pruning the flaxes to cut up the flower spikes and store until dry for kindling. They are better than any kindling we have ever tried apart from pine cones which we never have enough of.
We also save our grape vine off-cuts after pruning, which are great because they are so thin.
We too harvest flax flower stems – not only do Tui feed on the flowers, but we benefit from an endless source of excellent kindling!