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mountain flax nz

Searching for information on mountain flax NZ? You’ve come to the right place. Mountain flax, one of New Zealand’s iconic native plants, adds unique texture and drama to gardens across the country. Renowned for its upright green leaves and resilience, mountain flax is a favourite among landscapers and home gardeners for its adaptability and easy-care nature. If you’re looking to brighten your outdoor space with a hardy statement plant, mountain flax NZ is a rewarding choice.

Phormium cookianum

5 from 1 customers

Phormium cookianum, commonly known as Mountain Flax or Wharariki, is a graceful New Zealand native valued for its arching green leaves and tall flower spikes. It typically grows 1–1.5 metres tall and wide, making it ideal for borders, mass plantings, or coastal gardens. In summer, it produces yellow to orange tubular flowers that attract birds and pollinators. Hardy and tolerant of wind, salt, and poor soils, Wharariki thrives in full sun to part shade.

From $12.95

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 1.50 m
Spread: 1.50 m
Flowering time: Summer
Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wet, Wind
Garden uses: Banks, Living areas, Ponds
Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Modern, Native, Riparian
Phormium 'Emerald Gem' in a native garden.

Phormium 'Emerald Gem'

4.8 from 4 customers

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 full sun on a well-drained site. This dwarf flax is often added to mixed plantings and borders, used in coastal gardens, planted to accentuate water features such as ponds and streams, or grown around pool and barbecue areas.

From $9.95

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 60 cm
Spread: 70 cm
Flowering time: Summer
Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wet, Wind
Garden uses: Banks, Borders, Living areas, Parks, Paths & Steps, Patios, Ponds, Pool areas, Specimen
Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Native, Riparian
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-stripy-mist-
Phormium 'Stripy Mist'

Phormium 'Stripy Mist' is an attractive New Zealand flax valued for its beautifully variegated foliage featuring soft green leaves striped with...

From$17.95
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
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$7.50
Large Black Rage Phormium in a garden with black foliage.
Phormium 'Black Rage'

Phormium 'Black Rage' is a striking New Zealand native flax known for its bold, upright leaves in deep shades of dark purple to near black. This...

From$17.95
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 '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...

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 '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
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$17.95
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
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$20.63
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
sorbus-scarlet-king-
Sorbus aucuparia Scarlet King (Rowan Tree NZ)

Sorbus aucuparia Scarlet King is a variety of the commonly known, Mountain Ash, and is a small-sized, deciduous with impressive characteristics...

From$387.55
rhododendron-red-mountain-
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
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
prunus-mountain-haze-
Prunus Mountain Haze

Prunus Mountain Haze Tree Size and Growth Habit

From$515.35
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
fuscospora-cliffortioides-4
Fuscospora cliffortioides (Mountain Beech)

Commonly known as Mountain Beech, this is a large, evergreen tree native to NZ. The foliage comprises small, dark green leaves which are held densely...

From$270.40
Phormium 'Cream Delight' plant in a garden.
Phormium 'Cream Delight' (Cream Delight Flax)

Phormium 'Cream Delight' is a variety of Flax that produces leaves that are variegated with dark green and cream. This variety grows to 1.3 m tall...

OUT OF STOCK
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...

OUT OF STOCK
phormium-tenax-purpurea-1
Phormium tenax purpureum (Purple Flax)

Phormium tenax 'Purpureum' is a bold New Zealand flax valued for its rich purple bronze foliage and strong architectural form. This evergreen native...

OUT OF STOCK
Phormium 'Crimson Devil' plant with colourful foliage in a garden.
Phormium 'Crimson Devil' (Red Flax)

Phormium 'Crimson Devil' is a variety of Flax that produces leaves that are coloured various shades of red. This flax grows to 1.3 m tall and the...

OUT OF STOCK
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...

OUT OF STOCK
Astelia fragrans (Bush Flax) plant with lush green foliage growing beside a track.
Astelia fragrans (Bush Flax)

Astelia fragrans, commonly known as Bush Flax or Kakaha, is a hardy, clump-forming native plant of New Zealand. It features long, arching green...

OUT OF STOCK
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...

OUT OF STOCK
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...

OUT OF STOCK
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...

OUT OF STOCK
Dianella revoluta 'Little Rev' plants in a garden.
Dianella 'Little Rev'

Dianella 'Little Rev' (Blue Flax Lily) is a compact and hardy ornamental grass like plant valued for its attractive blue green foliage and tidy...

OUT OF STOCK

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

Search mountain flax nz

What is Mountain Flax?

Mountain flax, known botanically as Phormium cookianum, is a native New Zealand species treasured for its arching, green sword-like leaves and clusters of striking yellow-green flowers in spring and summer. Unlike the more robust New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax, mountain flax typically has narrower leaves and a more delicate, weeping habit—making it ideal for a wide range of planting sites.

Uses of Mountain Flax NZ in Landscaping

Mountain flax NZ is incredibly versatile in the garden. Its elegant foliage brings a sense of movement and contrast when paired with shrubs, grasses, or bold perennials. It’s often used as a specimen plant, softening hedges, defining borders, or adding height to mixed garden beds. Thanks to its tolerance of wind, salt spray, and poor soils, mountain flax thrives in exposed coastal gardens, urban landscapes, and even in containers. Its strong yet graceful form makes it an excellent choice for both formal and naturalistic designs.

Popular Cultivars and Related Flaxes

If you appreciate variety in colour and texture, our nursery stocks an inspiring selection of mountain flax and related cultivars. For traditional appeal, Phormium cookianum remains the classic choice. Those seeking unique leaf colours might consider the lime-variegated Phormium 'Moonraker' (Moonraker Flax), the compact and vibrant Phormium 'Emerald Gem', or the dramatic Phormium 'Purple Haze' (Purple Flax Plant). For a twist on tradition, Phormium 'Taya' (Taya Flax) offers a distinctive look perfect for modern landscapes.

Growing and Caring for Mountain Flax NZ

One of the biggest draws of mountain flax NZ is its low maintenance requirements. It flourishes in a range of soil types, prefers full sun to partial shade, and copes well with drought once established. Simply remove old or damaged leaves at their base each year to maintain a tidy appearance. Pest and disease problems are rare, making it a reliable option for hassle-free gardening.

Why Choose Mountain Flax NZ for Your Garden?

Mountain flax NZ brings New Zealand’s natural beauty to your doorstep, offering both practical and ornamental value. Whether you’re designing a contemporary courtyard, reinforcing coastal plantings, or refining a native bush garden, this native flax captures the spirit of Aotearoa effortlessly. Explore our online collection for a range of Phormium cookianum varieties and striking cultivars like Phormium 'Emerald Gem' or Phormium 'Moonraker' (Moonraker Flax), and let mountain flax NZ transform your landscape.

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.
Ficus 'Black Knight' and Rose 'Flower Carpet White' are classic choices, but adventurous gardeners will enjoy Apple Golden Delicious, Pinus pinea, and Feijoa 'Unique'.
–The Plant Company

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