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flax border

A flax border is a stunning and practical way to define pathways, outline garden beds, or create low-maintenance screens in New Zealand gardens. Revered for their architectural foliage, vibrant colours, and tolerance to our climate, flaxes (Phormium) provide year-round texture and interest. Whether you’re seeking to add a bold statement to a modern outdoor space or establish a classic native theme, incorporating a flax border can instantly transform your landscape with minimal upkeep.

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

Phormium 'Surfer'

5 from 2 customers

Phormium 'Surfer' is a compact New Zealand native flax admired for its striking green leaves edged with bronze and red tones. Its upright, arching foliage adds year round structure, texture, and colour contrast to the garden. This hardy and versatile variety is ideal for small spaces, borders, and containers.

From $14.95

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 90 cm
Spread: 70 cm
Flowering time: Summer
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wet, Wind
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Parks, Paths & Steps, Patios, Ponds, Pool areas, Specimen
Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Native, Riparian
Phormium tenax plant in a garden with green foliage.

Phormium tenax

5 from 2 customers

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 foliage in summer to bear twisted-looking flowers that result in black seed pods in autumn, and the nectar produced by the flowers attracts both birds and butterflies.

From $7.50

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 2.00 m
Spread: 2.00 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, Mediterranean, Modern, Native, Riparian
phormium-pepe-
Phormium 'Pepe' (Dwarf Flax)

Phormium 'Pepe' is a compact New Zealand flax prized for its fine green foliage and neat mounding growth habit. This hardy evergreen provides year...

From$19.95
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$8.50
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$14.95
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$8.50
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$14.95
Dianella tasmanica (Tasman Flax Lily) plants with green foliage and blue flowers.
Dianella tasmanica

Dianella tasmanica, commonly known as the Tasman Flax Lily, produces upright, strap-like leaves which are a rich, dark green and have a lush...

From$19.25
Dianella 'Blaze' plants featuring stunning bronze-green foliage in a garden.
Dianella 'Blaze'

Dianella 'Blaze' is a striking flax lily grown for its colourful, strap like foliage that develops rich shades of green, bronze, and fiery red...

From$16.49
dianella-revoluta-kentlyn--2
Dianella 'Kentlyn'

Dianella 'Kentlyn' is a hardy evergreen flax lily valued for its graceful arching blue green foliage that provides year round colour and texture...

From$16.49
Callistemon 'Genoa Glory' shrub covered in pretty, red flowers.
Callistemon 'Genoa Glory' (Bottlebrush)

Callistemon 'Genoa Glory' is a striking bottlebrush variety known for its vivid crimson red flower spikes and lush evergreen foliage. Flowering from...

From$27.53
Phormium 'Rainbow Red' red and purple striped foliage.
Phormium 'Rainbow Red'

Phormium 'Rainbow Red' is a vibrant New Zealand native flax admired for its bold, arching leaves in shades of bronze, red, and pink. This striking...

From$249.95
Callistemon citrinus 'Red Cluster' small tree with masses of red, pendulous flowers.
Callistemon 'Red Cluster' (Red Bottlebrush)

Callistemon 'Red Cluster' is a striking bottlebrush variety valued for its clusters of vivid red flower spikes and dense evergreen foliage. Flowering...

From$37.19
Callistemon 'Little John' shrub in a courtyard garden covered in elegant, red flowers.
Callistemon 'Little John'

Callistemon 'Little John' is a compact dwarf bottlebrush celebrated for its deep red flowers and fine blue green foliage. Flowering from spring into...

From$27.53
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$16.49
Callistemon 'Rocky Rambler' ground cover plant with creeping stems with green foliage and red flowers.
Callistemon 'Rocky Rambler' (Red Bottlebrush)

Callistemon 'Rocky Rambler' is a compact, spreading bottlebrush known for its vibrant red flower spikes and fine evergreen foliage. This variety...

From$27.53
Callistemon citrinus (Red Bottlebrush) shrub covered in elegant, red flowers.
Callistemon citrinus (Lemon Scented Bottlebrush)

Callistemon citrinus (Crimson Bottlebrush) is a classic Australian shrub widely loved in New Zealand for its brilliant crimson red flower spikes and...

From$27.53
A Sophora chathamica tree growing in a garden with green foliage.
Sophora chathamica

Sophora chathamica (Coastal Kōwhai) is a stunning New Zealand native tree known for its masses of bright yellow flowers that appear in early spring...

From$323.65
Libertia grandiflora plant with elegant white flowers and lush, dark green foliage.
Libertia grandiflora (NZ Iris)

Libertia grandiflora, commonly known as NZ Iris, is a hardy New Zealand native perennial admired for its elegant white flowers and sword like green...

From$16.50
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$20.63
A stunning Cordyline 'Salsa' plant with pink and purple striped foliage.
Cordyline 'Salsa'

Cordyline 'Salsa' is a striking evergreen foliage plant valued for its colourful, sword shaped leaves and strong architectural form. The vibrant...

From$25.95
Beschorneria 'Flamingo Glow' plant with pink flowers and foliage variegated green and yellow.
Beschorneria 'Flamingo Glow'

Beschorneria 'Flamingo Glow' is an architectural evergreen prized for its variegated sword like leaves washed with soft gold and green tones. In...

From$37.19
Kniphofia 'Border Ballet' plants in a cottage garden featuring orange flowers and lush green foliage.
Kniphofia 'Border Ballet' (Hot Poker Plant)

Kniphofia 'Border Ballet' is a variety of the commonly known Red Hot Poker, and is grown for its colourful flowers. Stems rise above the foliage...

From$20.63
Dianella nigra plant with masses of blue berries.
Dianella nigra (New Zealand Blueberry)

Dianella nigra, commonly known as the New Zealand Blueberry or Tūrutu, is a NZ native that features lush foliage and glossy berries that vary in...

From$16.49
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...

OUT OF STOCK
Phormium 'Sweet Mist' plants in a border garden.
Phormium 'Sweet Mist'

Phormium 'Sweet Mist' is a popular, dwarf flax that features bronze-coloured leaves. It grows to 40 cm tall and wide in full sun on a well-drained...

OUT OF STOCK
Phormium 'Rainbow Queen' flax plants for sale at The Plant Company nursery.
Phormium 'Rainbow Queen'

Phormium 'Rainbow Queen' is a variety of Flax that produces long, sword-like leaves that are bronze-green with pink-red margins. This variety...

OUT OF STOCK
A large Phormium 'Evening Glow' plant in a garden.
Phormium 'Evening Glow'

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...

OUT OF STOCK
Phormium 'Chocolate Fingers' plants with brown-green foliage.
Phormium 'Chocolate Fingers'

Phormium 'Chocolate Fingers' is a compact New Zealand native flax celebrated for its rich, dark chocolate brown foliage. Its fine, upright leaves...

OUT OF STOCK
Phormium 'Tom Thumb' plants with lush green foliage for sale at The Plant Company nursery.
Phormium 'Tom Thumb'

Phormium 'Tom Thumb' is a hardy variety of Flax that grows to 60 cm tall and the same wide, carrying narrow, sword-like green-brown leaves. Phormium...

OUT OF STOCK
A large and colourful Phormium cookianum 'Purpurea' plant.
Phormium cookianum 'Purpurea'

Phormium cookianum 'Purpurea' is a variety of Flax with long, sword-like, purple leaves. This variety typically grows to 1.5 m tall and the same...

OUT OF STOCK
Phormium 'Bronze Baby' growing alongside a stream.
Phormium 'Bronze Baby'

Phormium 'Bronze Baby', commonly known as Bronze Flax, is a compact New Zealand native flax admired for its fine, arching leaves in rich bronze...

OUT OF STOCK
Phormium 'Surfer'

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Dianella, and Phormium, or related Categories - Flaxes.

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Why Choose a Flax Border?

Flax borders stand out for their durability and versatility. Phormium species are evergreen perennials native to New Zealand, valued for their strong, sword-shaped leaves and resilience to wind, coastal exposure, and drought conditions. Their clumping growth habit makes them perfect for edging paths, marking boundaries, or mass planting for erosion control. A well-designed flax border also attracts native birds and supports biodiversity in your garden.

Top Flaxes for Stunning Borders

Selecting the right varieties is essential for a striking flax border. Consider mixing colours and heights for a dynamic, layered look. Popular choices include:

Planting and Caring for a Flax Border

Establishing a flax border is straightforward. Choose a sunny to partly shaded site with free-draining soil. Space plants according to their mature width, usually 60 to 90 centimetres apart for smaller varieties and up to 1.5 metres for larger species like Phormium tenax. Regular watering after planting helps them settle in, but once established, flaxes are highly drought-tolerant.

Apply mulch to suppress weeds and conserve moisture, and remove any damaged or old leaves in late winter to keep your border looking fresh. Flaxes rarely need feeding, but a general-purpose slow-release fertiliser in spring will promote healthy growth.

Creative Uses for Flax Borders

A flax border offers flexible design options:

Using mix-and-match varieties like Phormium 'Jester' and Phormium 'Velvet Underground' lets you create a unique flax border that brings structure and native beauty to your outdoor space year-round. Whether you have a coastal garden or a city courtyard, flaxes deliver impact and practical benefits without the fuss.

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.
While Chlorophytum comosum 'Variegatum' and Ficus 'Black Knight' are household names, Juncus effusus 'Spiralis', Lagerstroemia 'Souvenir Hubert Pouard', and Sophora 'Dragons Gold' are rising stars in the plant world.
–The Plant Company

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