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phormium maori queen

Phormium Maori Queen is a striking New Zealand flax that brings vibrant colour and architectural interest to any garden. Known for its lush, upright foliage with rich bronze-red tones edged in bright green, Phormium Maori Queen is a favourite among gardeners looking for low-maintenance, evergreen displays. Its tough, strap-like leaves stand up to wind, salt spray, and dry conditions, making it a top choice for coastal gardens, container plantings, and mixed borders. Whether you're searching for a bold accent plant or a hardy option for landscaping, Phormium Maori Queen offers beautiful foliage all year round and suits a wide range of New Zealand environments.

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. Harakeke grows as a clump to about 2 m tall and the same wide, performing best when planted in full sun on a well-drained site. It is a popular landscape option that is also often used to contrast with other plant colours. Mass planting on a bank not only provides an outstanding display but is also excellent for helping to stabilise the soil.

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-veneer-

Phormium 'Veneer'

Phormium Veneer is a colourful and very popular NZ native flax that features striking orange and brown stripes. It grows as a very tidy clump to about 80 cm tall and the same wide. Phormium Veneer is commonly added to mixed and border plantings, included in coastal gardens, planted around outdoor living areas, or maintained in a container.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 80 cm
Spread: 80 cm
Flowering time: Summer
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wet, Wind
Garden uses: Banks, Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas
Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Native
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Phormium 'Stripy Mist'

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Syagrus romanzoffiana (Queen Palm)

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Phormium 'Velvet Underground'

Phormium Velvet Underground is a colourful NZ native flax that features striking grey foliage with pink stripes. It grows as a very tidy clump to...

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Iris Rose Queen (Japanese Water Iris)

“Rose Queen” is a variety of Japanese Water Iris that produces spectacular flowers. The showy, two-tone pink blooms are borne atop sturdy stems in...

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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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Phormium 'Pepe' (Dwarf Flax)

Phormium Pepe is a smaller variety of Flax that produces narrow and sword-like, bright green leaves. It typically grows to just 45 cm tall and the...

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A large Phormium 'Evening Glow' plant in a garden.

Phormium 'Evening Glow'

Phormium 'Evening Glow' is a variety of Flax that produces long and broad, sword-like leaves that are coloured various shades of pink and red with a...

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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...

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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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A large Metrosideros 'Maori Princess' trees in an avenue with masses of red flowers.

Metrosideros 'Maori Princess'

Metrosideros 'Maori Princess' is a stunning cultivar of the NZ Christmas tree (Pohutukawa) and is renowned for its brilliant crimson-red flowers and...

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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...

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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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Phormium 'Chocomint'

Phormium Chocomint is a popular variety of Flax owing to its colourful foliage which brown with green stripes. It grows to 1 m tall and wide in full...

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Phormium 'Pink Panther'

Phormium Pink Panther produces long, sword like leaves that are candy pink with red-bronze margins. This Flax typically grows to 1.2 m tall and the...

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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 '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...

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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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Leptospermum Blossom Queen

Leptospermum Blossom Queen is a fast growing, NZ native shrub that produces stunning flowers. Double, pink flowers are borne in such proliferation...

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Acer palmatum 'Crimson Queen' specimen tree with purple-red cascading foliage.

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Acer palmatum 'Crimson Queen' is a highly admired weeping Japanese maple known for its finely dissected burgundy foliage that retains rich colour...

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Iris 'Snow Queen' (Siberian Iris)

Iris 'Snow Queen' is a stunning bearded iris known for its elegant pure white blooms that bring freshness and sophistication to New Zealand gardens...

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Phormium tenax

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Acer, Epipremnum, Hibiscus, Iris, Leptospermum, Metrosideros Phormium and Syagrus, or related Categories - Flaxes, Indoor Plants, Palm Trees, Iris Plants, Evergreen Shrubs Evergreen Trees and Maple Tree.

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Unique Features of Phormium Maori Queen

One of the most captivating features of Phormium Maori Queen is its eye-catching colour. The foliage offers a lively contrast—warm shades of red and bronze highlighted by vivid green margins. This unique colouring makes it perfect for adding depth and interest to garden compositions, whether planted individually or grouped with other flax varieties.

Aside from its visual appeal, Phormium Maori Queen provides excellent resilience. It's drought-tolerant, capable of thriving in both full sun and partial shade, and resistant to many of the common pests and diseases in New Zealand. This means your garden can stay lush and attractive with minimal fuss, even in exposed locations or poor soils.

How to Use Phormium Maori Queen in Your Garden

Phormium Maori Queen is unbelievably versatile. Use it as a structural focal point in contemporary garden designs or blend it seamlessly with native plantings for a natural look. Its impressive height and form make it particularly effective in windbreaks, hedges, or as a backdrop behind low-growing shrubs and perennials.

For gardeners keen on creating dynamic plant pairings, consider mixing Phormium Maori Queen with other popular flax cultivars. Complement the deep tones with the vibrant stripes of Phormium 'Stripy Mist', or create harmonious colour palettes by pairing it with Phormium 'Veneer' and Phormium 'Apricot Queen'. Each offers unique foliage textures and shades that can enhance your garden's beauty and habitat value.

Planting and Care Advice

Phormium Maori Queen grows best in well-drained soil, and while it tolerates dry periods, regular watering through its first year helps establish a strong root system. Once established, it thrives with occasional watering and an annual feed of balanced fertiliser. It's also ideal for easy-care landscaping—simply remove old or damaged leaves as required to keep your plant tidy and healthy.

If you're interested in exploring more native flax options, consider the classic Phormium tenax for remarkable size and native wildlife value or the bold colours of Phormium 'Maori Chief'.

Why Choose Phormium Maori Queen?

Phormium Maori Queen stands out for its durability, beauty, and adaptability—qualities that make it a top choice for New Zealand gardeners. Whether you're tackling coastal planting, landscaping a modern space, or simply looking for a stunning, low-maintenance native, this flax will deliver year-round performance and visual flair. Explore your options today and discover how Phormium Maori Queen can elevate your garden design.


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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.

–The Plant Company

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