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green flax

Green flax is a stunning and versatile native plant that brings year-round interest and structure to New Zealand gardens. Sought after for its upright, sword-shaped leaves with a vibrant green hue, green flax is both a hardy landscaping choice and a beautiful statement plant. Whether you’re designing a low-maintenance native garden, planting for privacy, or adding texture along ponds and streams, green flax is incredibly adaptable and reliable across a range of conditions.

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 round texture, movement, and structure, making it a versatile choice for gardens of all sizes.

From $17.95

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 50 cm
Spread: 50 cm
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wind
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios, Ponds, Pool areas
Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Modern, Native
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 'Emerald Green' plants in a mixed planting.
Phormium 'Emerald Green'

Phormium 'Emerald Green' is a compact New Zealand flax valued for its rich emerald green foliage and tidy growth habit. This hardy evergreen provides...

From$14.95
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$12.95
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$12.95
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$8.50
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-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$16.49
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
phormium-veneer-
Phormium 'Veneer'

Phormium 'Veneer' is a striking NZ flax known for its upright, sword like leaves with rich bronze and green tones. This hardy evergreen adds bold...

From$12.95
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$12.95
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...

Carex flagellifera Green plant with lush and colourful foliage.
Carex flagellifera Green

Carex flagellifera Green is a NZ native, ornamental grass grown for its attractive foliage. It produces slender and lush, green leaves as it grows to...

From$12.95
A large Phormium 'Dark Delight' plant with elegant, purple foliage.
Phormium 'Dark Delight'

Phormium 'Dark Delight', also known as Dark Purple Flax, is a bold New Zealand native flax prized for its broad, upright leaves in deep purple to...

From$17.95
schefflera-green-goblin-
Schefflera Green Goblin (Green Arboricola)

Schefflera Green Goblin, commonly known as the Green Arboricola, is an evergreen shrub commonly grown as a houseplant. The foliage is mid green...

From$23.95
fraxinus-green-glow-
Fraxinus Green Glow

Fraxinus Green Glow is a variety of Ash grown for its rich and colourful foliage. This deciduous tree produces dense and lush, bright green foliage...

From$511.09
Lomandra Green Allure plant with lush, green foliage.
Lomandra Green Allure

Lomandra Green Allure is widely used in landscaping projects across NZ. It is commonly mass planted as a ground cover or on a bank, included in...

From$19.25
Lomandra 'Misty Green' plants with cascading green foliage growing a bank.
Lomandra Misty Green

Lomandra Misty Green is an ornamental grass with delicate, dark green foliage and a tidy, rounded form. Growing to about 40 cm in height and width...

From$19.25
Corokia 'Geenty's Green' hedge.
Corokia 'Geenty's Green'

Corokia 'Geenty's Green' is a hardy, NZ native shrub that bears narrow, olive-green leaves that have a silver underside. Masses of small, star-like...

From$16.95
cupressus-green-spire-2
Cupressus Green Spire

Cupressus Green Spire is a conifer valued for its slender, upright habit that brings an architectural effect. It carries fine, dark -green foliage...

From$28.91
callistemon-green-john-
Callistemon 'Green John' (Dwarf Bottlebrush)

Callistemon 'Green John' is a hardy evergreen shrub admired for its fresh green foliage and vibrant red bottlebrush flowers that appear from spring...

From$27.53
grevillea-cream-and-green-
Grevillea 'Cream and Green'

Grevillea 'Cream and Green' is an attractive evergreen shrub known for its soft cream flowers and lush green foliage. Flowering over a long period...

From$28.91
Dodonaea viscosa small tree with green foliage.
Dodonaea viscosa (Green Ake Ake)

Dodonaea viscosa, commonly known as the Green Ake Ake, features lush, bright green leaves which are held densely off upright stems. The foliage is...

From$13.95
Pittosporum 'Mountain Green' lush, green foliage.
Pittosporum 'Mountain Green'

Pittosporum 'Mountain Green' is a robust New Zealand native shrub prized for its vibrant green foliage and dense growth. Perfect for creating privacy...

From$22.01
Euonymus 'Green Spires' plant with dense, dark green foliage.
Euonymus 'Green Spire'

Euonymus 'Green Spire' is a narrow, upright evergreen shrub admired for its strong vertical form and glossy green foliage. Compact and tidy, it...

From$24.77
pittosporum-green-jade-1
Pittosporum 'Green Jade'

Pittosporum 'Green Jade' is a handsome evergreen shrub valued for its rich green foliage, dense growth habit, and naturally tidy appearance. This...

From$22.01
Carex comans green plants with dense, green foliage in a garden.
Carex comans Green

Carex comans Green is a NZ native, ornamental grass featuring slender and arching, lime green foliage. It grows as a tidy clump to about 40 cm tall...

From$11.50
buxus-green-gem-
Buxus 'Green Gem'

Buxus 'Green Gem' is a compact, evergreen boxwood plant that is ideal for low hedges, borders, and topiary in New Zealand gardens. It forms a dense...

From$99.95
coprosma-repens-green-rocks-
Coprosma 'Green Rocks'

Coprosma 'Green Rocks' is a hardy evergreen shrub admired for its dense compact growth habit and fresh green glossy foliage. This attractive New...

From$16.95
Griselinia 'Gecko Green' plants growing as a hedge.
Griselinia 'Gecko Green'

Griselinia' Gecko Green' is an evergreen shrub with thick, glossy foliage that is deep green and held densely. It typically grows to 3 m tall and 2 m...

From$18.95
Thuja plicata 'Green Giant' trees standing 5 m tall as a lush, green screen.
Thuja 'Green Giant'

Thuja 'Green Giant' is a smaller variety of Cedar and bears sprays of glossy, dark green foliage held on slender stems. The result is a tree with a...

From$16.95
Phormium tenax

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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What is Green Flax?

Green flax refers to New Zealand’s iconic native species, most notably Phormium tenax. This hardy plant features robust green leaves and striking flower spikes that attract native birds and pollinators. Green flax thrives in a variety of soils, tolerates coastal winds, and copes well with both wet and dry sites, making it an ideal option for almost any garden setting. In addition to Phormium tenax, there are compact green flax cultivars perfect for smaller spaces or pots, such as Phormium 'Pepe' (Dwarf Flax) and Phormium 'Green Dwarf'.

How to Use Green Flax in Your Garden

Green flax excels as an architectural feature or mass planting along borders and driveways. Its strong vertical form provides year-round interest and acts as an excellent backdrop for other native shrubs or flowering perennials. Plant green flax near water features for a lush, natural effect or mix it with colourful cultivars like Phormium 'Spearmint' (Spearmint Flax) and Phormium 'Moonraker' (Moonraker Flax) for a layered, eye-catching display. Green flax is also well suited for ecological restoration projects, as its dense root system stabilises soil and prevents erosion on banks and slopes.

Green Flax Care and Maintenance

Caring for green flax couldn’t be easier. Once established, these tough plants need little attention—simply remove any dead or damaged leaves to keep them tidy. Green flax is drought tolerant and copes well with coastal conditions, though it also flourishes in damp areas. For best results, plant green flax in well-drained soils and add mulch to conserve moisture. Mature specimens can reach substantial heights, especially Phormium tenax, so give them ample space to grow. Compact varieties like Phormium 'Green Dwarf' are perfect if you want all the impact of green flax in a smaller form.

Discover More Flax Varieties

If you’re exploring options beyond traditional green flax, browse high-performing cultivars such as Phormium 'Spearmint' (Spearmint Flax) with its minty-green striped foliage, or the petite Phormium 'Pepe' (Dwarf Flax) ideal for rockeries and pots. For a unique twist, Phormium 'Moonraker' (Moonraker Flax) offers creamy margins and compact growth.

Green flax remains a timeless choice for gardeners seeking structure, resilience, and native beauty. Whether mass planted, in mixed borders, or featured as a stand-alone specimen, green flax is sure to impress for generations to come.

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.
Our garden favourites Alcantarea imperialis 'Rubra' and Buxus sempervirens (Boxwood) get lots of love, but don’t miss out on a few lesser-known delights: Choisya ternata (Mexican Mock Orange), Metrosideros robusta, and Azalea 'Blue Danube'.
–The Plant Company

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