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phormium black adder

Phormium Black Adder is one of the most striking New Zealand flax cultivars, prized for its deep, near-black foliage and architectural form. This dramatic flax variety is a favourite among Kiwi gardeners and landscaping professionals alike, offering year-round structure and bold colour contrast to gardens, courtyards, and urban plantings. Whether you're designing a contemporary outdoor space or looking to add texture to a coastal garden, Phormium Black Adder stands out as a top choice for its resilience and low maintenance needs.

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 '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.

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
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Large Black Rage Phormium in a garden with black foliage.
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Phormium 'Surfer'

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Fuscospora, Phormium, and Prumnopitys, or related Categories - Flaxes, Indoor Plants, and Evergreen Trees.

Search phormium black adder

Bold Colour and Dramatic Form

Phormium Black Adder is instantly recognisable for its slender, arching leaves in rich shades of deep purple-black. The sword-like foliage reaches up to 1.2 metres in height, creating an upright clump that holds its form throughout the seasons. This variety works beautifully as a specimen plant, a bold border, or mass-planted for maximum impact. Its eye-catching colour pairs well with silvers, greens, and light flowering perennials, making it easy to create stylish plant combinations.

Easy Care and Versatile

Gardening with Phormium Black Adder is a breeze, whether you’re a seasoned horticulturist or just getting started. This hardy New Zealand native thrives in a wide range of conditions, from coastal winds to frosty zones and even urban pollution. Once established, it tolerates dry spells and is generally pest resistant. Plant Phormium Black Adder in full sun for the darkest foliage, although it will cope with partial shade as well. It’s perfectly suited for low-maintenance landscapes, pots, and mixed borders.

Uses in Landscaping

Phormium Black Adder is loved for its adaptability. Gardeners often use it as a feature plant in contemporary gardens, structured courtyard plantings, and coastal landscapes. The dark foliage also serves as a striking contrast plant alongside lighter grasses and flowering natives. For a cohesive look, consider combining it with other dramatic black flaxes such as Phormium 'Platts Black', Phormium 'Black Rage', and Phormium 'Black Magic'. For smaller spaces or containers, Phormium 'Black Pepe' (Dwarf Black Flax) is an excellent compact alternative.

Planting and Care Tips

To get the most out of your Phormium Black Adder, choose a well-drained site and enrich the soil before planting. These flaxes are tolerant but respond well to a layer of mulch and occasional deep watering in dry periods. Remove old or damaged leaves at the base to maintain its tidy appearance. Feed yearly with a slow-release native plant fertiliser to support healthy growth and rich, glossy colour.

Other Black-leaved Phormium

If you're expanding your collection, explore related varieties like the uniquely textured Phormium 'Veneer', which offers an alternative look while maintaining the deep dark tones beloved in New Zealand gardens. Mixing different phormium types can create a tapestry of colour and form, bringing your outdoor spaces to life all year round.

Embrace the bold beauty and tough character of Phormium Black Adder, and see how it transforms your landscape with minimal fuss and maximum impact.

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.
Corokia 'Frosted Chocolate' and Gardenia 'Veitchii' are beloved staples, but Carex buchananii (Buchanans Sedge), Camellia 'Paradise Blush', and Magnolia grandiflora 'Russet' bring fresh energy to any planting scheme.
–The Plant Company

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