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phormium black velvet

Phormium Black Velvet is a striking variety of New Zealand flax prized for its rich, dark foliage and compact form. Perfect for adding drama and texture to home gardens, landscapes, or containers, this unique plant offers year-round interest with its deep, near-black leaves. Whether you are designing a modern landscape or enhancing your native garden, Phormium Black Velvet provides an elegant solution with minimal maintenance requirements, making it a favourite among New Zealand gardeners.

Large Black Rage Phormium in a garden with black foliage.

Phormium 'Black Rage'

5 from 2 customers

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 dramatic and architectural plant adds instant impact to gardens, providing colour contrast and strong vertical form. Hardy and versatile, it thrives in a range of NZ conditions, from coastal to urban settings. Phormium 'Black Rage' is the perfect choice for gardeners wanting a low maintenance yet eye catching feature.

From $21.39

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 80 cm
Spread: 80 cm
Flowering time: Summer
Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wet, Wind
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Parks, Paths & Steps, Ponds, Pool areas, Specimen
Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Native, Riparian
A large Phormium 'Dark Delight' plant with elegant, purple foliage.

Phormium 'Dark Delight'

5 from 3 customers

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 bronze shades. This striking ornamental variety brings drama, colour, and structure to gardens year round. Hardy and versatile, it thrives in a wide range of NZ conditions, from coastal sites to urban landscapes. Phormium 'Dark Delight' is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking a low maintenance, architectural feature.

From $21.39

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 1.20 m
Spread: 1.20 m
Flowering time: Summer
Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wet, Wind
Garden uses: Living areas, Parks, Ponds, Pool areas, Specimen
Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Native, Riparian
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$18.63
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1m wide Black Polythene

This polythene is 80 microns thick, very durable, and suits a host of different uses. Please enquire about larger sizes and heavier grades.

From$138.40
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2m wide Black Polythene

This polythene is 80 microns thick, very durable, and suits a host of different uses. Please enquire about larger sizes and heavier grades.

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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...

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Phormium 'Stripy Mist'

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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...

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Phormium 'Emerald Gem' in a native garden.
Phormium 'Emerald Gem'

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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...

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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...

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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...

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Tiarella Neon Lights

Tiarella Neon Lights is an herbaceous perennial grown for both its foliage and flowers. It grows as a clump, producing large leaves that are...

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Phormium cookianum, commonly known as Mountain Flax or Wharariki, is a graceful New Zealand native valued for its arching green leaves and tall...

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Phormium 'Green Dwarf' flax plant in a native garden with Oioi plants.
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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...

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Camellia 'Black Lace'

Camellia 'Black Lace' is a dramatic evergreen shrub admired for its deep velvety red blooms set against glossy dark green foliage. Flowering from...

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Michelia 'Velvet and Cream' is a compact, evergreen tree admired for its glossy, dark green foliage and fragrant, creamy white flowers that bloom...

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Phormium 'Black Rage'

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Search phormium black velvet

Spectacular Features of Phormium Black Velvet

This exceptional variety stands out due to its slender, sword-shaped leaves in a lush, inky purple-black hue. Phormium Black Velvet typically grows to around 60–90 cm tall and wide, offering a more compact alternative to larger flax varieties. Its upright growth habit and distinctive colouring make it a captivating focal point in garden beds and borders or as a statement plant in patio containers. The foliage remains striking throughout the year, withstanding New Zealand’s variable weather and coastal conditions.

Planting and Care Tips

Phormium Black Velvet thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts well to a range of soils, provided they are free-draining. Once established, it is highly tolerant of dry conditions, wind, and salt spray, making it suitable for coastal gardens. Incorporate organic compost during planting and keep the soil slightly moist during the first growing season to ensure strong root development. Minimal maintenance is required beyond the occasional removal of old or damaged leaves at the base. Regular mulching helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.

Landscaping with Phormium Black Velvet

This variety of flax provides dramatic contrast in mixed borders, mass plantings, or paired with silver or green foliage plants. For a coordinated, modern look in your landscape, consider pairing Phormium Black Velvet with related varieties such as Phormium 'Black Magic' or Phormium 'Platts Black'. These dark-leaved flaxes complement each other beautifully, offering subtle variations in size and tone.

If you love experimenting with colour and texture, integrate Phormium Black Velvet alongside perennials with velvety foliage for a cohesive display. Nearby, Pelargonium Aristo Black Velvet and Heuchera Velvet Night (Coral Bells) bring lush, dark hues and intricate leaf shapes to shaded borders or containers. For indoor gardeners, Alocasia reginula Black Velvet (Elephant Ear) offers a similar depth of colour and texture, perfect for creating a continuity of style from outdoors to inside.

Why Choose Phormium Black Velvet?

Phormium Black Velvet is an excellent choice for eco-conscious gardeners, thanks to its resilience, drought tolerance, and minimal care requirements. It attracts native birds, including tūī and bellbirds, when mature plants send up flower spikes in summer. Its tough, versatile nature makes it ideal for sustainable gardens, public plantings, and low-maintenance landscapes across New Zealand.

Embrace the drama and sophistication that Phormium Black Velvet brings to your garden, and explore our range of distinctive dark-foliaged plants for a truly unique outdoor space.

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.
While Duranta Geisha Girl and Chlorophytum comosum variegatum (Spider Plant) are household names, Pandorea 'Snowbells', Camellia sinensis, and Hibiscus 'Blushing Bride' are rising stars in the plant world.
–The Plant Company

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