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phormium dusky chief

Phormium Dusky Chief is a stunning New Zealand flax prized for its rich, dark burgundy foliage and elegant upright form. This compact and hardy selection brings bold, year-round colour and sculptural structure to gardens of all styles, from modern landscapes to naturalistic native plantings. Whether you’re looking to create contrast in your border, stabilise a coastal bank, or fill containers with architectural flair, Phormium Dusky Chief is an exceptional choice for Kiwi gardeners seeking low-maintenance impact.

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 forms a clump around 40–60 cm tall and wide, making it perfect for edging, borders, pots, or mass planting.

From $8.50

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 75 cm
Spread: 60 cm
Flowering time: Summer
Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wet, Wind
Garden uses: Banks, Borders, Living areas, Parks, Paths & Steps, 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'

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-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-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 '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$14.95
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
Cornus 'Cherokee Chief' specimen tree with masses of pink flowers in late winter.
Cornus Cherokee Chief

Cornus 'Cherokee Chief' is a small, deciduous tree grown for its impressive flowering and attractive form. Masses of rose-red flowers are borne in...

From$270.40
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
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 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
A Phormium 'Rainbow Chief' plant with colourful foliage.
Phormium 'Rainbow Chief'

Phormium 'Rainbow Chief' is a bold and colourful New Zealand native flax variety known for its striking arching leaves striped with tones of red...

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Phormium 'Maori Chief'

Phormium 'Maori Chief' is a bold New Zealand flax valued for its impressive size, rich bronze green foliage, and strong architectural presence. This...

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phormium-duet-
Phormium 'Duet'

Phormium 'Duet' is a striking New Zealand flax valued for its attractive green leaves edged with creamy yellow margins. This evergreen plant provides...

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correa-dusky-bells-
Correa 'Dusky Bells'

Correa 'Dusky Bells' is a compact evergreen shrub known for its attractive dusky pink bell shaped flowers and soft grey green foliage. It brings year...

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phormium-coffee-1
Phormium 'Coffee'

Phormium 'Coffee' is a striking New Zealand flax renowned for its rich coffee brown foliage that adds year round colour, texture, and structure to...

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Phormium 'Black Magic' plants in a large pot and featuring elegant, dark-coloured foliage.
Phormium 'Black Magic'

Phormium ‘Black Magic’ is a striking NZ flax prized for its deep purple black foliage and strong architectural form. This evergreen variety adds year...

OUT OF STOCK
Phormium 'Sunset Dreams' colourful foliage.
Phormium 'Sunset Dreams'

Phormium 'Sunset Dreams' is a stunning New Zealand native flax variety celebrated for its vibrant foliage of pink, apricot, and bronze tones. This...

OUT OF STOCK
Phormium 'Apricot Queen' orange, green, and yellow variegated foliage.
Phormium 'Apricot Queen'

Phormium 'Apricot Queen' is a stunning NZ flax variety valued for its arching leaves striped with apricot, cream, and green tones. This colourful...

OUT OF STOCK
A Phormium 'Dazzler' plant with colourful, red and purple foliage.
Phormium 'Dazzler'

Phormium 'Dazzler' is a variety of flax that produces long leaves that are dark purple with rose-pink stripes. It typically grows to 1.2 m tall and...

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Phormium 'Sweet Mist' plants in a border garden.
Phormium 'Sweet Mist'

Phormium 'Sweet Mist' is a popular, dwarf flax that features bronze-coloured leaves. It grows to 40 cm tall and wide in full sun on a well-drained...

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Phormium 'Joker' large and colourful plant.
Phormium 'Joker'

Phormium 'Joker' is a colourful New Zealand flax celebrated for its striking foliage featuring bronze green leaves with vibrant pink and cream...

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A colourful Phormium 'Merlot' dark red-purple flax plant.
Phormium 'Merlot'

Phormium Merlot is a variety of Flax that produces long and broad, sword like leaves that are coloured dark purple-grey with a distinctive black...

OUT OF STOCK
A Phormium 'Guardsman' colourful flax plants in pots.
Phormium 'Guardsman'

Phormium 'Guardsman' is a variety of flax that produces long and broad leaves that are brown with a pink margin. This Flax typically grows to 1.3 m...

OUT OF STOCK
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Phormium 'Chocomint'

Phormium 'Chocomint' is a striking New Zealand flax admired for its unique foliage colouring that blends chocolate brown and green tones. This...

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Phormium 'Shiraz'

Phormium 'Shiraz' is a striking New Zealand flax renowned for its rich burgundy red foliage and bold architectural form. This evergreen plant...

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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
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Phormium 'Stripy Mist'

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

OUT OF STOCK
Phormium 'Rainbow Maiden' flax plants with colourful pink and purple foliage.
Phormium 'Rainbow Maiden'

Phormium 'Rainbow Maiden' is a vibrant New Zealand native flax variety admired for its striking pink, bronze, and green striped foliage. This...

OUT OF STOCK
Phormium 'Majestic Rage' purple flax plants.
Phormium 'Majestic Rage'

Phormium 'Majestic Rage' is a variety of Flax that produces long and broad leaves that are a rich bronze colour. This variety grows to 1.3 m tall and...

OUT OF STOCK
Phormium 'Elfin' flax plant.
Phormium 'Elfin'

Phormium 'Elfin' is a dwarf variety of flax that produces narrow, sword-like leaves that are coloured brown-bronze. This variety typically grows to...

OUT OF STOCK
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Phormium 'Blondie'

Phormium 'Blondie' is a compact New Zealand flax admired for its bright golden yellow foliage that brings year round colour and texture to the...

OUT OF STOCK
Phormium 'Green Dwarf'

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

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Why Choose Phormium Dusky Chief?

The appeal of Phormium Dusky Chief lies in its deep, dusky red leaves that appear almost black in certain light. Growing up to around 1 metre tall and wide, it fits beautifully in smaller gardens, mass plantings, or as a striking specimen in pots. As with all New Zealand flax, Phormium Dusky Chief is known for its resilience—tolerating wind, coastal exposure, poor soils, and even dry conditions once established. Its tidy clumping habit and relatively slow growth mean less maintenance, and the colourful foliage remains vibrant through winter.

How to Plant and Care for Phormium Dusky Chief

Plant your Phormium Dusky Chief in a sunny to partly shaded spot with well-draining soil. It will tolerate periods of drought but appreciates regular watering during the first growing season to establish its roots. Every couple of years, remove any damaged or old leaves at the base to keep the plant looking fresh. For containers, use a quality potting mix and ensure pots have ample drainage holes. Feeding with a slow-release fertiliser in spring will encourage vigorous growth and rich leaf colour.

Landscape Uses for Phormium Dusky Chief

Phormium Dusky Chief’s dark foliage pairs beautifully with lime greens, silvers, and soft blue-greys—think Libertia, hebes, or grasses like Carex. Use it as a dramatic accent among lighter-coloured flax varieties such as Phormium 'Duet', or combine it with striped cultivars like Phormium 'Stripy Mist' for dynamic texture and contrast. Its compact size and evergreen nature make it ideal for modern courtyards, poolside plantings, or alongside pathways and driveways. Phormium Dusky Chief is also an excellent choice for low-maintenance public spaces and coastal projects due to its toughness and reliability.

Explore Other Phormium Varieties

If you love the look of Phormium Dusky Chief, you’ll also want to explore other versatile phormium options. For a bold, larger-leafed crimson, consider Phormium 'Maori Chief'. For a colourful variegated look, Phormium 'Rainbow Chief' offers striking stripes that bring vibrancy to garden beds. Phormium 'Duet' displays creamy edges for added brightness, while Phormium 'Veneer' features sleek bronze tones.

Why Buy Phormium Dusky Chief from a New Zealand Nursery?

When you buy Phormium Dusky Chief grown in New Zealand, you’re getting a flax perfectly suited to local conditions, bred for performance and beauty. Whether you’re after a statement specimen for your front entrance or a tough, colourful filler, our nursery-grown Phormium selections bring structure and colour to every landscape. Browse our full range to find the perfect flax companion for your garden today.

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.

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–The Plant Company

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