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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.

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.

From $19.95

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
dianthus-king-of-the-blacks-

Dianthus 'King of the Blacks'

5 from 2 customers

Dianthus 'King of the Blacks' is a striking perennial known for its deep velvety red to near black flowers that create dramatic contrast in New Zealand gardens. Flowering through spring and summer, it provides long lasting colour and fragrance.

From $20.63

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate
Plant type: Perennials
Height: 40 cm
Spread: 50 cm
Flowering time: Spring
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas
Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern
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Black Polythene - 1 m Wide

Black Polythene - 1 m Wide is a practical plastic sheeting option for garden, nursery, and landscaping applications. The black finish helps block...

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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...

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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 '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.
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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...

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Phormium 'Jack Spratt' plants for sale at The Plant Company nursery.
Phormium 'Jack Spratt'

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

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Phormium 'Emerald Green' plants in a mixed planting.
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Phormium 'Rainbow Red' red and purple striped foliage.
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Heuchera 'Northern Exposure Black' lush foliage.
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Heuchera 'Northern Exposure Black' is a dramatic perennial renowned for its intensely dark foliage that provides exceptional contrast and year round...

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Coprosma 'Black Cloud' shrub in a garden with black and green foliage.
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Phormium 'Dark Delight'

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Dianthus, Phormium, and Zamioculcas, or related Categories - Black polythene, Flaxes, and Indoor Plants.

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 Arthropodium cirratum (Rengarenga Lily) and Griselinia 'Broadway Mint' are household names, Cherry 'Dawson', Liquidambar styraciflua 'Gumball', and Solanum jasminoides 'Grandiflora' (Potato Vine) are rising stars in the plant world.
–The Plant Company

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