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dwarf red flax plant

If you’re searching for a vibrant, versatile accent for your New Zealand garden, the dwarf red flax plant will quickly become a favourite. This stunning, compact variety of New Zealand flax (Phormium) stands out with its strappy, deep red foliage that brings a bold splash of colour to patios, borders, and even containers. Loved for its manageable size and easy-care nature, the dwarf red flax plant is perfect for contemporary landscaping or adding year-round interest to traditional garden beds. Whether you want a striking focal point or a low-maintenance plant for mass planting, this dwarf red treasure is a truly adaptable solution.

Pittosporum 'Stephens Island' green foliage.

Pittosporum 'Stephens Island' (Dwarf Karo)

5 from 2 customers

Pittosporum ‘Stephens Island’ is a compact, evergreen shrub known for its dense, upright growth and attractive grey-green foliage. A hardy New Zealand native, it typically grows to around 1.5–2 metres tall, making it ideal for low hedges, borders, and coastal gardens. This variety thrives in full sun to partial shade and is highly tolerant of wind, salt spray, and dry conditions. Low-maintenance and naturally tidy, ‘Stephens Island’ is an excellent choice for structured, native-themed landscapes.

From $22.01

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Shrubs
Height: 4.00 m
Spread: 3.00 m
Flowering time: Spring
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wind
Garden uses: Hedging, Living areas, Parks, Ponds, Pool areas, Screening, Specimen
Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Formal, Frontyard, Modern, Native
Escallonia 'Red Elf' red flowers and glossy, green foliage.

Escallonia 'Red Elf'

Escallonia 'Red Elf' is a compact evergreen shrub renowned for its vibrant red flowers and neat rounded growth habit. This attractive variety produces an abundance of blooms over a long flowering season, bringing colour and life to the garden while attracting pollinators. Its smaller stature makes it ideal for borders, low hedges, containers, and feature planting. Well suited to New Zealand conditions, Escallonia 'Red Elf' is a hardy and easy care shrub that provides year round structure and seasonal beauty.

From $16.95

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate
Plant type: Shrubs
Height: 2.00 m
Spread: 1.50 m
Flowering time: Spring, Summer
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy
Garden uses: Containers, Hedging, Living areas, Pool areas
Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern
Escallonia 'Red Elf' red flowers and glossy, green foliage.
Escallonia 'Red Elf'

Escallonia 'Red Elf' is a compact evergreen shrub renowned for its vibrant red flowers and neat rounded growth habit. This attractive variety...

From$16.95
leptospermum-red-damask--1
Leptospermum 'Red Damask'

Leptospermum 'Red Damask' is a striking evergreen shrub admired for its masses of rich red flowers and fine dense foliage. Flowering through spring...

From$27.53
hebe-red-edge-
Hebe 'Red Edge'

Hebe 'Red Edge' is a compact evergreen shrub known for its distinctive foliage with red tinged edges that intensify in cooler weather, adding year...

From$20.63
leptospermum-red-falls--3
Leptospermum 'Red Falls'

Leptospermum 'Red Falls' is a striking evergreen shrub admired for its cascading growth habit and masses of vibrant red flowers through spring and...

From$27.53
magnolia-red-as-red-2
Magnolia Red As Red (Red As Red Magnolia)

Magnolia Red as Red bears masses of large and showy, dark red flowers through late winter and early spring. The flowers are borne on the naked stems...

From$515.35
Carex flagellifera Red plants.
Carex flagellifera Red

Carex flagellifera Red is a NZ native, ornamental grass grown for its colourful and attractive foliage. It produces slender and lush, copper-red...

From$11.50
Escallonia 'Red Knight' growing as a border around the base of a tree.
Escallonia 'Red Knight'

Escallonia 'Red Knight' is a vibrant evergreen shrub prized for its masses of rich red flowers and dense glossy foliage. This hardy variety produces...

From$16.95
Clivia miniata 'Red' plants with elegant, red flowers.
Clivia miniata 'Red' (Natal Lily)

Clivia miniata 'Red' is a striking evergreen perennial prized for its bold red trumpet shaped flowers that appear in late winter and spring. The...

From$20.01
Hypoestes 'Splash Red' plant with colourful red folaige.
Hypoestes 'Splash Red'

Hypoestes 'Splash Red' is a vibrant foliage plant prized for its bright green leaves boldly splashed with deep red markings. This compact and...

From$26.15
Lagerstroemia 'Best Red' red flowers amidst dark purple foliage.
Lagerstroemia 'Best Red'

Lagerstroemia ‘Best Red’ is a standout crepe myrtle prized for its intense red summer flowers and strong upright tree form. Flowering through the...

From$323.65
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Rhododendron Vireya 'Red Mountain'

Rhododendron Vireya 'Red Mountain' is a striking tropical rhododendron celebrated for its vivid red flowers and lush evergreen foliage. The colourful...

From$28.91
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Leucothoe axillaris Curly Red

Leucothoe axillaris Curly Red, commonly known as Dog Hobble, is a beautiful shrub which is grown of its colourful and curly foliage. New foliage is...

From$26.15
photinia-super-red--1
Photinia 'Super Red' (Red Robin)

Photinia 'Super Red' is a striking evergreen shrub known for its vibrant red new growth that contrasts beautifully with mature green foliage. This...

From$18.95
Leptospermum 'Electric Red' plant with red flowers.
Leptospermum 'Electric Red'

Leptospermum 'Electric Red' is a striking evergreen shrub known for its vivid red flowers that create a bold and eye catching display in spring. The...

From$27.53
Lagerstroemia 'Crimson Red' showy red flowers.
Lagerstroemia 'Crimson Red'

Lagerstroemia ‘Crimson Red’ is a striking crepe myrtle renowned for its deep crimson summer flowers and attractive upright tree form. Flowering...

From$30.29
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Pelargonium Two in One Dark Red (Red Pelargonium)

Pelargonium Two In One Dark Red is a variety of Geranium grown for its clusters of dark red flowers. The showy flowers are borne through spring and...

From$22.01
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Callistemon 'Red Alert'

Callistemon 'Red Alert' is a compact evergreen shrub admired for its brilliant red bottlebrush flowers that appear from spring into summer. The vivid...

From$27.53
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Grevillea 'Red Clusters'

Grevillea 'Red Clusters' is a vibrant evergreen shrub that produces masses of rich red flower clusters throughout the year. Its fine foliage and...

From$28.91
Buddleia 'Royal Red' dark pink flowers and grey-green foliage.
Buddleia 'Royal Red'

Buddleia ‘Royal Red’ is a bold deciduous shrub celebrated for its rich red crimson flower spikes and sweet summer fragrance. Flowering over an...

From$27.53
acer-red-sunset-2
Acer 'Red Sunset'

Acer 'Red Sunset' is one of the finest deciduous maples for autumn colour, producing a spectacular display of brilliant scarlet and crimson foliage...

From$399.95
A cluster of Hoya 'Red Buttons' purple and red flowers.
Hoya pubicalyx 'Red Button'

Hoya 'Red Button' is a popular variety of Hoya that is commonly grown as an indoor plant. It produces elongated, dark green leaves held on trailing...

From$27.53
A Loropetalum 'Red Temple' plant with dark purple-red foliage and elegant, pink flowers.
Loropetalum 'Red Temple'

Loropetalum 'Red Temple' produces mildly fragrant, pink-red flowers through winter, which are both unusual and appealing. The foliage on this bushy...

From$28.91
Coprosma Red Rocks with colourful foliage in a garden.
Coprosma 'Red Rocks'

Coprosma 'Red Rocks' is a hardy NZ native shrub known for its rich red toned foliage and tough spreading habit. Naturally found in coastal...

From$11.95
Photinia 'Red Robin' hedge with colourful foliage.
Photinia 'Red Robin'

Photinia ‘Red Robin’ is a popular evergreen shrub renowned for its vibrant red new growth, which contrasts beautifully with the mature glossy green...

From$18.95
Acer palmatum 'Red Emperor' specimen tree in a mixed planting.
Acer 'Red Emperor'

Acer 'Red Emperor' is a striking Japanese maple valued for its rich deep red foliage and strong upright form. This deciduous tree performs...

From$349.95
Aquilegia 'Earlybird Red and Yellow' elegant flower.
Aquilegia 'Earlybird Red and Yellow'

Aquilegia 'Earlybird Red and Yellow' is a compact perennial celebrated for its striking red and yellow bi coloured flowers that appear early in the...

From$30.29
Salvia 'Riverton Red' plant with elegant red flowers and lush, green leaves.
Salvia 'Riverton Red'

Salvia 'Riverton Red' is a striking perennial prized for its vivid red flower spikes that bloom reliably from spring through autumn. This hardy, sun...

From$27.53
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Azalea 'Mrs Kint Red'

Azalea 'Mrs Kint Red' is a vibrant evergreen azalea admired for its rich red flowers that appear in abundance during spring. The bold blooms sit...

From$32.95
A Pittosporum 'Midget' plant in a garden.
Pittosporum 'Midget' (Dwarf Pittosporum)

Pittosporum 'Midget' is a dwarf variety that features foliage made up of small, fresh green leaves. The foliage is complemented with small, purple...

From$35.81
Imperata 'Red Baron' with colourful, red foliage
Imperata Red Baron

Imperata 'Red Baron', commonly known as Japanese Blood Grass, features leaves that are green at the base and become red further up the blade. Through...

From$20.63
Pittosporum 'Stephens Island' (Dwarf Karo)

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Carex, Clivia, and Escallonia, or related Categories - Flaxes, Grasses, and Perennials.

Search dwarf red flax plant

Why Choose the Dwarf Red Flax Plant for Your Garden?

The dwarf red flax plant is celebrated among New Zealand gardeners for its hardiness, architectural form, and vivid evergreen leaves. Unlike larger flaxes, this compact cultivar stays tidy, usually reaching just 60–90 cm tall and wide—ideal for smaller spaces or mixed planters. Its tough, leathery foliage resists wind, coastal conditions, and even drought once established, making it a fantastic choice for exposed spots or low-water gardens.

This plant also thrives in full sun to part shade and flourishes in a wide range of soils, as long as they’re well-drained. Use the dwarf red flax plant as a feature in contemporary landscapes, to edge walkways, or in mass plantings where its dark red hues create striking contrast with silver or green foliage.

Ideas for Pairing and Planting

For dramatic effect, pair the dwarf red flax plant with other colourful and textural flora. Consider combining it with Kniphofia Dwarf Scarlet (Hot Poker Plant) for a fiery display, or plant alongside Photinia Super Red (Red Robin) to echo and enhance the red tones throughout your design. For a native planting palette, mix the dwarf red flax with Phormium 'Pepe' (Dwarf Flax), which offers a more subtle presence but the same resilience and structure.

To add wildlife appeal, flank your flax with Grevillea Red Clusters (Red Clusters Grevillea), which attracts nectar-seeking birds, or introduce the showy blooms of Rhododendron Vireya Red Mountain for striking contrast and long-lasting colour.

Caring for Your Dwarf Red Flax Plant

One of the best things about the dwarf red flax plant is how little fuss it requires. Simply plant in well-drained soil in a sunny to partly shaded position, water regularly until established, and then reduce irrigation. Remove old or damaged leaves as needed to keep your plant looking its best. Flaxes generally cope well in most New Zealand climates and rarely suffer from pests or disease.

For gardeners seeking colour, structure, and year-round interest without the maintenance headaches, the dwarf red flax plant is an enduring classic. With its versatility and visual impact, it offers a simple way to inject style and native charm into Kiwi gardens of any size.

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.

Illustration of plant leaves.
Celebrate your favourites like Zephyranthes candida and Rhododendron Vireya 'Pink Jazz', then branch out with Selenicereus undatus, Camellia 'Paradise Belinda', and Buxus sempervirens 'variegata'.
–The Plant Company

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