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phormium spp

Phormium spp, commonly known as New Zealand flax, are striking architectural plants that add bold texture, colour, and movement to any garden. Well-loved for their sword-shaped leaves and resilience, these versatile natives thrive in a range of conditions, making them a top choice for both coastal and city landscapes in New Zealand. Their dramatic foliage comes in shades from green and bronze to pink and red, offering year-round interest wherever they're planted.

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 $12.95

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 80 cm
Spread: 80 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-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 round texture, movement, and structure, making it a versatile choice for gardens of all sizes.

From $17.95

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 50 cm
Spread: 50 cm
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wind
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios, Ponds, Pool areas
Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Modern, Native
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$12.95
A large Phormium 'Dark Delight' plant with elegant, purple foliage.
Phormium 'Dark Delight'

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...

From$17.95
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...

From$17.95
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$12.95
Phormium 'Emerald Green' plants in a mixed planting.
Phormium 'Emerald Green'

Phormium 'Emerald Green' is a compact New Zealand flax valued for its rich emerald green foliage and tidy growth habit. This hardy evergreen provides...

From$14.95
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...

From$8.50
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...

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$12.95
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 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$8.50
phormium-pink-panther-
Phormium 'Pink Panther'

Phormium 'Pink Panther' is a striking New Zealand flax admired for its colourful foliage featuring shades of pink, bronze, and green. This eye...

OUT OF STOCK
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Phormium 'Spearmint'

Phormium 'Spearmint' is an attractive New Zealand flax prized for its fresh green foliage highlighted with creamy margins. This evergreen plant...

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Phormium 'Velvet Underground'

Phormium 'Velvet Underground' is a dramatic New Zealand flax prized for its rich dark burgundy to almost black foliage and bold architectural form...

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Phormium 'Moonraker'

Phormium 'Moonraker' is a striking New Zealand flax renowned for its bold cream to yellow foliage that brings exceptional brightness and structure to...

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Phormium Surfer Boy plant.
Phormium 'Surfer Boy'

Phormium 'Surfer Boy' is a compact New Zealand flax prized for its tidy growth habit and attractive green foliage. This hardy evergreen provides year...

OUT OF STOCK
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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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
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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Phormium 'Chocolate Chip'

Phormium 'Chocolate Chip' is a compact New Zealand flax prized for its rich chocolate bronze foliage and neat architectural form. This hardy...

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
Phormium 'Thumbelina' plant.
Phormium 'Thumbelina'

Phormium 'Thumbelina' is a compact New Zealand flax prized for its fine arching foliage and neat rounded form. This attractive evergreen provides...

OUT OF STOCK
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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...

OUT OF STOCK
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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...

OUT OF STOCK
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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...

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 '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
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Phormium 'Tricolour'

Phormium 'Tricolour' is a striking New Zealand flax admired for its colourful foliage featuring green leaves edged with cream and highlighted by pink...

OUT OF STOCK
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Phormium 'Wildwood'

Phormium 'Wildwood' is a striking New Zealand flax valued for its rich bronze green foliage and strong architectural form. This hardy evergreen...

OUT OF STOCK
Phormium tenax green plant.
Phormium tenax 'Green' (Harakeke)

Phormium tenax 'Green' is a classic New Zealand flax valued for its strong upright green foliage and outstanding versatility in the landscape. This...

OUT OF STOCK
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Phormium tenax purpureum (Purple Flax)

Phormium tenax 'Purpureum' is a bold New Zealand flax valued for its rich purple bronze foliage and strong architectural form. This evergreen native...

OUT OF STOCK
Phormium 'Surfer'

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

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Why Choose Phormium spp for Your Garden

Phormium spp are celebrated for their easy-care nature and adaptability. These hardy perennials tolerate wind, dry soils, salt spray, and even temporary floods, making them perfect for challenging garden spots. Whether you’re designing a modern border, native garden, or mass planting on a bank, Phormium provides form, colour, and structure with minimal fuss. Many gardeners use them as focal points, shelter belts, or even as striking container plants on patios.

Popular Varieties of Phormium spp

Our nursery stocks a wide selection of eye-catching Phormium cultivars. For something truly unique, Phormium 'Pink Panther' dazzles with its candy-pink stripes. If you have a smaller garden or prefer a compact style, Phormium 'Thumbelina' is a dwarf variety ideal for pots or edging. For more subtle, modern tones, consider Phormium 'Veneer', which features soft, silvery leaves with elegant veining. The copper-pink leaves of Phormium 'Sundowner' bring vibrant warmth, while Phormium 'Merlot' offers deep burgundy hues that contrast beautifully with lighter companion plants.

How to Grow and Care for Phormium spp

Phormium spp require very little maintenance once established. Plant them in full sun to partial shade, in well-drained soil. Though drought-tolerant, they thrive with occasional deep watering in dry spells, particularly during the first year after planting. Remove spent flower stalks and old foliage at the base to keep plants tidy and healthy. For optimal growth, add a layer of mulch and apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring. Pests and diseases are rare, but it's a good idea to check for snails and keep the centre of dense clumps clear for good air flow.

Landscaping Ideas with Phormium spp

There are countless creative ways to use Phormium spp in your landscape design. Group together several varieties, such as the striking Phormium 'Pink Panther' or the compact Phormium 'Thumbelina', for a vivid, textural border. Use Phormium as a backdrop for native wildflowers or as a windbreak in exposed sites. Their sculptural leaves pair perfectly with grasses, hebes, and groundcovers for a modern, low-maintenance garden.

Discover the Beauty of Phormium spp

Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting out, Phormium spp offer reliability and style. Explore our range of beautiful Phormium, including Phormium 'Veneer', Phormium 'Sundowner', and Phormium 'Merlot'. Enhance your landscape with these hardy, stunning natives that bring a touch of New Zealand’s wild beauty to your home.

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.
Dianella 'Little Jess' and Arthropodium cirratum (Rengarenga Lily) have stood the test of time, but new generations of gardeners are discovering Geranium Tiny Monster (Cranesbill Geranium), Fuchsia arborescens, and Crassula pellucida variegata.
–The Plant Company

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