phormium tricolor

Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

Phormium tricolor is a striking New Zealand native flax, cherished for its vibrant foliage and architectural form. If you're searching for a hardy, colourful plant that thrives in a range of New Zealand gardens, phormium tricolor stands out with its eye-catching striped leaves of green, creamy yellow, and deep red. Whether you're designing a contemporary planting scheme, seeking bold texture for a coastal garden, or looking for a low-maintenance evergreen, phormium tricolor offers reliable appeal and year-round interest.

Phormium 'Stripy Mist'

Phormium Stripy Mist is a popular NZ native dwarf flax that features striking green leaves with a chocolate brown centre. It grows as a very tidy clump to about 40 cm tall and the same wide. Phormium Stripy Mist is commonly added to mixed and border plantings, included in coastal gardens, planted around outdoor living areas, or maintained in a container.

Buy Phormium 'Stripy Mist'

From $20.93

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Flaxes

Height: 40 cm

Spread: 40 cm

Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wind

Garden uses: Banks, Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios, Ponds, Pool areas

Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Mediterranean, Modern, Native

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 structure and year round colour to gardens. Well suited to NZ conditions, it thrives in a range of environments and is ideal for feature planting, borders, and modern landscapes.

Buy Phormium 'Veneer'

From $20.18

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, Paths & Steps, Pool areas

Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Native

Did you find what you are looking for?

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

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Why Choose Phormium tricolor?

Phormium tricolor is the perfect plant for gardeners who value both beauty and resilience. This hardy flax tolerates wind, salt, and periods of drought, making it an excellent choice for coastal areas and exposed sites. The colourful leaves add visual excitement to mixed borders or act as a striking focal point in pots and planters. Thanks to its robust nature, phormium tricolor requires minimal maintenance—just remove old or damaged leaves periodically, and enjoy its bold appearance throughout the year.

Design Uses for Phormium tricolor

Phormium tricolor shines as a specimen plant, offering vibrant contrast and strong lines in garden beds. Its reliability as a screening and background plant makes it a popular choice in both urban and rural landscapes. Many New Zealand landscapers use phormium tricolor to add texture to native garden schemes or to offset softer foliage plants. Try combining this flax with grasses, low shrubs, or groundcovers for a dynamic effect. For even more flair, pair phormium tricolor with other colourful New Zealand flaxes such as Phormium 'Veneer'.

How to Grow Phormium tricolor

Phormium tricolor thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. It tolerates poor soils and is often planted in challenging spots where other plants struggle. Regular watering during the first year will help it establish, but once settled, phormium tricolor is highly drought-tolerant. This flax also withstands heavy frosts and grows well throughout most regions of New Zealand, from coastal gardens to city courtyards.

Find Phormium tricolor at Our Nursery

If you're ready to add the bold foliage of phormium tricolor to your garden, our nursery proudly offers healthy, locally grown plants. Discover more about Phormium 'Tricolour'—the official varietal name commonly used for this eye-catching flax. We also stock other unique and colourful plants, including Peperomia tricolor, which features stunning variegation for indoor settings, and Sedum spurium 'Tricolor' (Caucasian Stonecrop) for bright groundcover accents. For climber enthusiasts, explore Trachelospermum jasminoides Tricolour (Tricolour Star Jasmine).

Enhance your landscape with phormium tricolor, a versatile flax ideal for New Zealand gardens of every style. Visit our shop to view our full selection and find the perfect plant for your 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.