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Phormium tenax Jester

Phormium tenax Jester, also known as Jester Flax, is a vibrant NZ native that brings year-round colour and structure to any garden. With its striking arching leaves in shades of bright pink, green, and cream, Phormium tenax Jester adds a modern touch to beds, borders, and containers. This hardy, low-maintenance flax is perfect for coastal or urban landscapes, tolerates wind and drought, and makes a fantastic feature plant or mass planting option. Whether you’re rejuvenating a traditional Kiwi garden or creating architecturally inspired landscaping, Jester Flax offers both showstopping looks and easy care.

Phormium 'Jester'

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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 variety typically grows to 1 m tall and the same wide with a tidy and compact habit. Phormium 'Jester' is often added to mixed plantings and borders, used in coastal gardens, planted to accentuate water features such as ponds and streams, or grown around pool and barbecue areas.

A large Phormium 'Jester' plant with colourful foliage.
  • Suited to regions:
    All regions
  • Plant type:
    Flaxes
  • Height:
    1.00 m
  • Spread:
    1.00 m
  • 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, Modern, Native, Riparian
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Phormium 'Jester'

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Distinctive Appearance

Jester Flax is famous for its lively tri-colour foliage. New leaves emerge in vivid pink, blending into olive green and cream stripes. Mature leaves retain dynamic colouring throughout the year, providing constant visual interest. Its clumping habit forms neat, compact tufts about 60-90cm high and wide, meaning it won’t crowd out other plants. Phormium tenax Jester’s unique colours make it a standout among flax cultivars like Phormium 'Evening Glow' and Phormium 'Emerald Gem'.

Ideal Uses for Phormium tenax Jester

Jester Flax is incredibly versatile in New Zealand gardens. Use it as:

Its salt tolerance and adaptability make it ideal for both coastal and urban sites. For complementary foliage, pair with fellow natives like Phormium 'Surfer', blue-toned Dianella Goddess, or the rich purple of Libertia 'Volcano'.

Planting and Care Guide

Phormium tenax Jester thrives in well-drained soil and full sun, but also tolerates light shade. Once established, it’s highly drought-tolerant and resists wind damage, making it a mainstay for low-care, hardy gardens. Simply remove old or damaged foliage at ground level to keep your Jester Flax looking its best year-round.

For border layering, try mixing with the lush green leaves of Phormium 'Green Dwarf' or compact Phormium 'Surfer Bronze'.

Explore More NZ Natives

Our selection includes a full range of Phormiums and companion plants for every design vision. Looking for more compact or purple-toned options? Check out Phormium cookianum purpurea. For grass-like texture and vibrant flowers, Dianella revoluta and Dianella haematica are excellent choices.

Discover how Phormium tenax Jester can add character to your garden, or contact us for expert planting advice. With our range of New Zealand natives, it’s easy to create a resilient, stunning landscape you’ll love year-round.


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.

While Corokia 'Frosted Chocolate' and Gardenia Veitchii often steal the spotlight, charming plants like Phormium 'Veneer', Cordyline Broadsword, and Corylus colurna quietly shine in any garden.
–The Plant Company

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