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flax pants

Are you searching for "flax pants" and curious about the story behind this unique keyword? In New Zealand, the renowned flax plant, Phormium tenax, has long played a key role in both traditional weaving and contemporary garden design. While flax pants may bring to mind natural, sustainable clothing inspired by New Zealand's native flora, the roots of such eco-friendly fashion often begin in the garden, where hardy, striking Phormium species thrive. Whether you’re interested in flax as a versatile landscape feature, a nod to sustainable living, or as a source for traditional handiwork, New Zealand’s flaxes offer an abundance of value and beauty.

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. Harakeke grows as a clump to about 2 m tall and the same wide, performing best when planted in full sun on a well-drained site. It is a popular landscape option that is also often used to contrast with other plant colours. Mass planting on a bank not only provides an outstanding display but is also excellent for helping to stabilise the soil.

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
dianella-blaze-

Dianella Blaze

5 from 2 customers

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. Dianella Blaze is commonly mass planted in borders or as a groundcover, included in a mixed planting, or planted around outdoor living areas.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 70 cm
Spread: 70 cm
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Ponds, Pool areas
Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Mediterranean, Modern
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
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...

From$20.93
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
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
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
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-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-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
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-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...

From$20.93
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 '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 '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
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 '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-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
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
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$18.23

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
Large Astelia chathamica in a garden with silver flax-like leaves.

Astelia chathamica (Chatham Island Astelia)

Astelia chathamica, commonly known as the Chatham Island Astelia or Kakaha, produces broad, erect, silver-green leaves. The leaves are held with a...

From$299.92
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
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
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 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$20.18
Phormium tenax

Did you find what you are looking for?

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

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The Flax Plant: New Zealand’s Sustainable Wonder

Phormium tenax, known locally as harakeke or New Zealand flax, is famous for its strong, fibrous leaves. These leaves have been used for centuries by Māori weavers to create durable baskets, cloaks, and yes—historically even flax pants and other garments. Today, gardeners are just as enthralled by the plant’s architectural form, resilience, and low maintenance needs. Explore how Phormium tenax can lend statement structure and native texture to your home landscape.

Stylish Varieties for Modern Gardens

Flax pants may be a search rooted in fashion, but the appeal of Phormium and its relatives reaches far beyond clothing. Modern cultivars bring bold colour and refined form to any outdoor space. The deep burgundy leaves of Phormium 'Purple Haze' (Purple Flax Plant) provide a sculptural, dramatic focal point, ideal for contemporary gardens or urban containers. For a different look, the lime-to-gold variegation of Phormium 'Moonraker' (Moonraker Flax) brightens up shaded borders and mixed plantings.

Gardeners seeking vibrant contrast and textural interest often turn to Phormium 'Red Fingers' (Red Fingers Flax), prized for its compact growth habit and striking red-tipped foliage. These cultivar choices pay tribute to New Zealand’s cultural heritage while providing modern, low-maintenance options for today’s outdoor spaces.

Beyond Flax: Complementary Plants

For garden designers inspired by the textures and tones of flax, there are other tough, stylish options to consider. Dianella Blaze offers slender, strappy foliage and eye-catching blue berries, providing fantastic contrast when paired with upright Phormium varieties. Together, these plants create layered plantings full of movement and colour, echoing the natural beauty of Aotearoa.

Creating Your Flax-Inspired Garden

If the search for flax pants has piqued your interest in New Zealand’s plant heritage, your garden is a wonderful place to carry that inspiration forward. Incorporating Phormium and friends is not only a nod to sustainable design and crafting traditions—it’s also a great way to add year-round structure, wildlife habitat, and resilience to your garden. Whether you’re aiming for a stylish, modern landscape or a traditional Kiwi-inspired retreat, our range of Phormium cultivars and companion plants can help you achieve your vision. Explore our plant range to get started.


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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