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clay and flax

Searching for clay and flax in the garden world often leads to exciting possibilities, whether you’re a home gardener or a landscape designer. Both clay soils and New Zealand flax (Phormium) are fundamental parts of gardening across Aotearoa, with their pairing offering fantastic opportunities for stunning, resilient gardens. If you’re exploring plants that can thrive in clay and flax settings, or you’re curious about how to use New Zealand flax in clay-rich soils, you’re in the right place.

A large Phormium 'Evening Glow' plant in a garden.

Phormium 'Evening Glow'

5 from 2 customers

Phormium 'Evening Glow' is a variety of Flax that produces long and broad, sword-like leaves that are coloured various shades of pink and red with a bronze margin. This variety grows to 1.3 m tall and the same wide with a tidy and compact habit. Phormium 'Evening Glow' is a versatile plant that makes a fantastic addition to mixed plantings and borders, and is well-suited for coastal gardens. It can also be used to accentuate water features, such as ponds and streams, or grown around pool and barbecue areas.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 1.30 m
Spread: 1.30 m
Flowering time: Summer
Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wet, Wind
Garden uses: Banks, Living areas, Parks, Ponds, Pool areas, Specimen
Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Native, Riparian
phormium-pepe-

Phormium 'Pepe' (Dwarf Flax)

Phormium Pepe is a smaller variety of Flax that produces narrow and sword-like, bright green leaves. It typically grows to just 45 cm tall and the same wide with a tidy and compact habit. Phormium Pepe is a versatile plant that makes a fantastic addition to mixed plantings, border plantings, water features, coastal gardens, or outdoor living areas.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 50 cm
Spread: 50 cm
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wind
Garden uses: Banks, Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios, Ponds, Pool areas
Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Modern, Native
phormium-veneer-

Phormium 'Veneer'

Phormium Veneer is a colourful and very popular NZ native flax that features striking orange and brown stripes. It grows as a very tidy clump to...

From$20.18
Phormium tenax plant in a garden with green foliage.

Phormium tenax

Phormium tenax, commonly known as the NZ flax or Harakeke, is a flax plant that produces erect, green, sword-like leaves. Stems rise above the...

From$20.93
phormium-velvet-underground-1

Phormium 'Velvet Underground'

Phormium Velvet Underground is a colourful NZ native flax that features striking grey foliage with pink stripes. It grows as a very tidy clump to...

From$20.93
Phormium 'Surfer Bronze' plants for sale at The Plant Company nursery.

Phormium 'Surfer Bronze'

Phormium 'Surfer Bronze' is a compact and stylish New Zealand native flax with narrow, upright leaves in rich bronze tones. This striking ornamental...

From$18.23
phormium-stripy-mist-

Phormium 'Stripy Mist'

Phormium Stripy Mist is a popular NZ native dwarf flax that features striking green leaves with a chocolate brown centre. It grows as a very tidy...

From$20.93
A large Phormium 'Jester' plant with colourful foliage.

Phormium 'Jester'

Phormium 'Jester' is a showy variety of Flax that produces leaves that are striped with a broad, pink central band and a dark purple border. This...

From$24.23
A mass planting of Dianella caerulea 'Little Jess' plants with lush, green foliage.

Dianella 'Little Jess'

Dianella 'Little Jess' is a variety of NZ Flax Lily that bears spikes carrying delicate, blue flowers in spring above lush, mid-green leaves. Small...

From$18.83
Phormium 'Surfer' plants in pots for sale at The Plant Company nursery.

Phormium 'Surfer'

Phormium 'Surfer' is a compact New Zealand native flax admired for its striking green leaves edged with bronze and red tones. Its upright, arching...

From$18.23
dianella-blaze-

Dianella Blaze

Dianella Blaze features broad and gently arching, bronze-purple leaves that are very showy. It typically grows to 70 cm tall and the same wide...

From$16.13
phormium-chocomint--2

Phormium 'Chocomint'

Phormium Chocomint is a popular variety of Flax owing to its colourful foliage which brown with green stripes. It grows to 1 m tall and wide in full...

From$24.23
Phormium 'Jack Spratt' plants for sale at The Plant Company nursery.

Phormium 'Jack Spratt'

Phormium 'Jack Spratt' is one of the smallest New Zealand native flax varieties, admired for its narrow, upright leaves in rich bronze to dark...

From$18.23
dianella-revoluta-kentlyn--2

Dianella Kentlyn

Dianella Kentlyn is a variety of the commonly known, Flax Lily, produces upright, strap-like leaves which are a rich, dark green with a blue...

From$16.13
Phormium 'Green Dwarf' flax plant in a native garden with Oioi plants.

Phormium 'Green Dwarf'

Phormium 'Green Dwarf', also known as Dwarf Green Flax, is a compact, tidy New Zealand flax cultivar with lush, bright green, strap-like leaves. It...

From$16.13
Phormium 'Emerald Gem' in a native garden.

Phormium 'Emerald Gem'

Phormium 'Emerald Gem' is a dwarf variety of Mountain Flax or Wharariki. It produces emerald-green leaves and grows to 60 cm tall and 70 cm wide in...

From$16.13

Phormium cookianum

Phormium cookianum, commonly known as Mountain Flax or Wharariki, is a graceful New Zealand native valued for its arching green leaves and tall...

From$17.48
dianella-caerulea-goddess-

Dianella Goddess

Dianella Goddess is a variety of the commonly known, NZ Flax Lily, and produces upright, strap-like leaves which are a rich, dark green with a blue...

From$20.18
Dianella Revelation plants growing in a garden.

Dianella 'Revelation'

Dianella 'Revelation' features flower stems that rise above the foliage through spring and summer to bear masses of delicate, blue flowers, which...

From$16.13
phormium-pink-panther-

Phormium 'Pink Panther'

Phormium Pink Panther produces long, sword like leaves that are candy pink with red-bronze margins. This Flax typically grows to 1.2 m tall and the...

From$20.93
Phormium 'Black Pepe' dwarf flax plant.

Phormium 'Black Pepe' (Dwarf Black Flax)

Phormium 'Black Pepe' is a dwarf Flax variety that produces black leaves with a purple overtone. It grows to 60 cm tall and the same wide in full sun...

From$17.48
Dianella revoluta 'Little Rev' plants in a garden.

Dianella 'Little Rev'

Dianella 'Little Rev' is a compact, clump-forming evergreen known for its striking blue-grey foliage and architectural form. This Blue Flax-Lily...

From$20.18
bergenia-pink-snow-cloud-

Bergenia 'Pink Snow Cloud' (Heart Leaf Bergenia)

Bergenia Pink Snow Cloud is grown for its lush foliage and pretty flowers. The leaves are large and arranged as a somewhat flat rosette. They tend to...

From$20.18
Muehlenbeckia axillaris growing as a ground cover.

Muehlenbeckia axillaris (Creeping Wire Vine)

Muehlenbeckia axillaris, commonly known as Creeping Wire Vine, is a hardy New Zealand native groundcover with wiry stems and small, dark green...

From$20.18
Cordyline australis 'Red Star' plants with fabulous dark red-purple foliage.

Cordyline Red Star

Cordyline 'Red Star' is a popular evergreen plant renowned for its striking, deep red, sword-like leaves, which add a strong architectural form to...

From$21.53
Astelia Frosted Bronze plants with colourful foliage in a pot.

Astelia 'Frosted Bronze'

Astelia 'Frosted Bronze' features striking and colourful foliage. The new leaves emerge a red-bronze colour and age to become silver with a hint of...

From$29.63
Dianella 'Margaret Pringle' plant in a pot.

Dianella 'Margaret Pringle'

Dianella 'Margaret Pringle' bears spikes carrying delicate, blue flowers in spring, which are followed by small, blue berries in summer. These are...

From$18.83
cordyline-lime-fountain-3

Cordyline Lime Fountain

Cordyline 'Lime Foutain' is a fresh and vibrant evergreen plant admired for its bright lime green foliage and graceful fountain like form. The...

From$29.63
Dianella revoluta 'Blue Twist' plant.

Dianella Blue Twist

Dianella Blue Twist bears spikes that may reach 1 m in length carrying delicate, light blue flowers. These are held above the blue-green, strap-like...

From$18.83
Phormium 'Evening Glow'

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Astelia, Bergenia, Cordyline, Dianella Muehlenbeckia and Phormium, or related Categories - Flaxes Groundcover Plants and Perennials.

Search clay and flax

Understanding Clay and Flax in Your Garden

Clay soil is known for its fine texture and rich nutrient content, but it can also be tricky. Its tendency to compact and hold water makes plant selection crucial. This is where New Zealand flax (Phormium) comes in as a superb choice. Valued for its architectural foliage and incredible hardiness, flax not only tolerates clay soil but often thrives in it—making the combination of clay and flax especially popular throughout New Zealand’s landscapes.

Benefits of Planting Flax in Clay Soils

Many gardeners are surprised to learn how well flax complements clay. Flax varieties such as Phormium 'Surfer Boy' (Surfer Boy Flax), Phormium 'Cream Delight' (Cream Delight Flax), and Phormium 'Moonraker' (Moonraker Flax), display remarkable adaptability. Their dense root systems help break up heavy clay, improve drainage, and reduce erosion, while their stunning, colourful leaves provide visual interest year-round.

Top New Zealand Flax Choices for Clay Soils

If you’re keen to enrich your clay garden with native character, consider these tried-and-true Phormium cultivars: - Phormium 'Surfer Boy' (Surfer Boy Flax): A compact variety with upright, vibrant green leaves. It’s well-suited to smaller spots or as a mass planting for robust structure. - Phormium 'Cream Delight' (Cream Delight Flax): Noted for its cream, lime, and green striped foliage, it brings brightness to gardens with dense soils. - Phormium 'Moonraker' (Moonraker Flax): With bold, pale leaves and striking presence, this variety creates a strong focal point. - Phormium 'Pixie' (Pixie Flax): A dwarf option perfect for borders or pots above heavy clay areas. - Phormium 'Anna Red' (Anna Red Flax): Known for its deep red colouring, it pairs beautifully with clay’s earthy tones.

Tips for Growing Clay and Flax Successfully

To get the best out of clay and flax, invest in a little preparation. Dig in organic matter to lighten the soil and boost fertility. Space your flax according to variety—their mature size ranges from petite to architecturally commanding. Regular feeding during the growing season and the occasional mulch will keep your plants healthy and vibrant. With their toughness and adaptability, Phormium make an excellent long-term investment for clay gardens.

Whether you’re refreshing a landscape or starting from scratch, clay and flax is a dynamic, low-maintenance combination that suits gardens across New Zealand. Explore our popular flax selections, including Phormium 'Surfer Boy' (Surfer Boy Flax), Phormium 'Cream Delight' (Cream Delight Flax), and Phormium 'Moonraker' (Moonraker Flax), to bring both structure and style to your outdoor space.


Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

–The Plant Company

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