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nz flax bush

The NZ flax bush is a true icon of New Zealand’s natural landscape, instantly recognisable for its bold, sword-shaped leaves and architectural presence. Whether you’re after a striking centrepiece for your garden, a robust hedging plant, or a low-maintenance choice for tough sites, the nz flax bush offers plenty of options. Native to New Zealand, these resilient plants thrive in coastal gardens, wetlands, and urban spaces alike, making them a favourite with Kiwi gardeners and landscape designers.

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 flax is perfect for adding colour contrast and texture to modern and traditional gardens. Its tidy, clump forming habit makes it suitable for smaller spaces, borders, and pots.

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.

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 '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-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$14.95
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$14.95
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 '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$14.95
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
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
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$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
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
Large Muehlenbeckia astonii shrub in a garden.
Muehlenbeckia astonii (Mingimingi)

Muehlenbeckia astonii, commonly known as the Wiggy Wig Bush or Shrubby Tororaro, is a distinctive New Zealand native shrub characterised by its...

From$20.63
Gardenia florida spectacular white flower amidst dark green foliage.
Gardenia 'Florida'

Gardenia florida is a compact, evergreen shrub renowned for its glossy, green foliage and richly fragrant, white blooms that appear from late spring...

From$18.95
Dodonaea viscosa purpurea shrub with colourful, purple foliage growing an an informal hedge.
Dodonaea viscosa purpurea (Purple Hop Bush)

Dodonaea viscosa purpurea, commonly known as Purple Ake Ake, features lush, purple leaves which are held densely off upright stems. The foliage is...

From$99.95
A Teucrium fruticans rounded shrub with grey foliage and blue flowers.
Teucrium fruticans

Teucrium fruticans (Bush Germander) is a hardy evergreen shrub admired for its attractive silvery foliage and soft blue flowers that appear through...

From$18.95
Buddleia fallowiana 'Lochinch' purple flower cluster amidst lush grey foliage.
Buddleia 'Lochinch'

Buddleia ‘Lochinch’ (Butterfly Bush) is a fast growing deciduous shrub admired for its long sprays of soft lavender blue flowers and silvery green...

From$26.15
Metrosideros excelsa (Pohutukawa) specimen tree with masses of red flowers in a coastal location.
Metrosideros excelsa (Pōhutukawa)

Metrosideros excelsa, commonly known as Pōhutukawa or the New Zealand Christmas Tree, is a coastal evergreen renowned for its brilliant red flowers...

From$30.29
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
An exquisite flower on 'White Romance' Rose.
Rose White Romance

Rose 'White Romance' is an elegant garden rose with beautiful white flowers that bring a fresh timeless look to NZ gardens. Its neat bushy habit and...

From$38.57
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 '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
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...

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
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 '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
Ceratopetalum Shiraz shrub with masses of red flowers.
Ceratopetalum 'Shiraz' (Festival Bush)

Ceratopetalum 'Shiraz', commonly known as the Australian Christmas Bush or Festival Bush, is a stunning, evergreen shrub favoured for its colourful...

OUT OF STOCK
Olearia cheesmanii white flowers on a shrub with lush green foliage.
Olearia cheesmanii (Daisy Bush)

Olearia cheesmanii is a rare and threatened NZ native shrub that is highly valued for its conservation importance and natural beauty. This hardy...

OUT OF STOCK
Anigozanthos 'Bush Diamond' plant in a pot with masses of grey flowers and lush green foliage.
Anigozanthos 'Bush Diamond'

Anigozanthos ‘Bush Diamond’ is a striking Kangaroo Paw known for its crisp white flowers and compact, tidy form. This hardy variety performs reliably...

OUT OF STOCK
Clerodendrum ugandense (Blue Butterfly Bush) blue flowers.
Clerodendrum ugandense (Butterfly Bush)

Clerodendrum ugandense, commonly known as the Blue Butterfly Bush, is an open, sprawling evergreen shrub favoured for its lovely masses of blue...

OUT OF STOCK
Anigozanthos 'Bush Elegance' plants with dark red flowers above lush, green foliage.
Anigozanthos 'Bush Elegance'

Anigozanthos ‘Bush Elegance’ is a refined Kangaroo Paw featuring elegant soft toned flowers held above neat evergreen foliage. This compact variety...

OUT OF STOCK
Phormium 'Surfer Bronze'

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

Search nz flax bush

What is an NZ Flax Bush?

The term "NZ flax bush" commonly refers to species within the Phormium genus. Phormiums feature long, upright leaves in shades of green, bronze, red, and yellow, depending on the variety. They’re evergreen perennials, which means they add year-round structure and colour to your garden. Some gardeners also use the name "bush flax" for species in the Astelia genus, such as Astelia fragrans (Bush Flax), which offers a softer, bushier silhouette paired with beautiful silvery-green foliage.

Types of NZ Flax Bush

There’s an impressive range of NZ flax bush choices, each with its own unique flair. Some standout varieties include:

Explore each plant to discover the right fit for your space, whether you want statement colour or hardy groundcover.

Planting and Care Tips

Growing an NZ flax bush is rewarding and simple. Choose a spot in full sun to part shade with well-draining soil, although most flax varieties tolerate poor or dry conditions once established. To plant, dig a hole at least twice as wide as the root ball, plant at the same depth as it was in the pot, and water well. NZ flax bushes are drought-tolerant and wind-hardy, making them ideal for exposed sites or coastal gardens.

Pruning is minimal—just remove old or damaged leaves as needed. Feeding with organic mulch in spring will keep your NZ flax bush looking lush and healthy.

Benefits and Uses

NZ flax bushes are not only visually striking but also highly functional. They work as erosion control on banks, act as shelterbelts, and attract native birds with their nectar-rich flowers. The architectural lines are prized in both contemporary landscaping and traditional Māori weaving practices. Many Kiwis use flax as feature plants, dramatic borders, or low-maintenance solutions for big impact.

Looking for other native options? Consider Astelia fragrans (Bush Flax) for a softer look, or browse the range of Phormium cultivars like Phormium 'Moonraker' (Moonraker Flax) and Phormium 'Purple Haze' (Purple Flax Plant).

Explore our selection and bring the beauty and resilience of the NZ flax bush to your garden.


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.

Sure, Ficus Tuffi and Coprosma acerosa are crowd-pleasers, but Camellia 'Takanini', Nandina 'Firepower', and Camellia transnokoensis are quietly making a name for themselves.
–The Plant Company

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