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purple flax lily

If you’re searching for a vibrant, easy-care plant to add colour and structure to your garden, the purple flax lily is a fantastic choice for New Zealand landscapes. This striking perennial brings a splash of purple and blue-green hues with its upright, strappy foliage and delicate flowers. Whether you’re planning a low-maintenance border, coastal planting, or contemporary garden design, the purple flax lily offers both beauty and resilience.

A large Phormium 'Dark Delight' plant with elegant, purple foliage.

Phormium 'Dark Delight'

5 from 3 customers

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 bronze shades. This striking ornamental variety brings drama, colour, and structure to gardens year round.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 1.20 m
Spread: 1.20 m
Flowering time: Summer
Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wet, Wind
Garden uses: Living areas, Parks, Ponds, Pool areas, Specimen
Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Native, Riparian
Dianella tasmanica (Tasman Flax Lily) plants with green foliage and blue flowers.

Dianella tasmanica

5 from 1 customers

Dianella tasmanica, commonly known as the Tasman Flax Lily, produces upright, strap-like leaves which are a rich, dark green and have a lush appearance. Flower stems rise above the foliage through spring to bear masses of delicate, blue flowers, which result in blue berries.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 1.00 m
Spread: 1.00 m
Flowering time: Spring, Summer
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas
Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern
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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 'Jack Spratt' plants for sale at The Plant Company nursery.
Phormium 'Jack Spratt'

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Dianella 'Kentlyn'

Dianella 'Kentlyn' is a hardy evergreen flax lily valued for its graceful arching blue green foliage that provides year round colour and texture...

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Phormium 'Emerald Gem' in a native garden.
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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...

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Phormium 'Surfer Bronze' plants for sale at The Plant Company nursery.
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Arthropodium cirratum (Rengarenga Lily)

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Clivia miniata (Natal Lily)

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Phormium 'Rainbow Red' red and purple striped foliage.
Phormium 'Rainbow Red'

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Dianella nigra plant with masses of blue berries.
Dianella nigra (New Zealand Blueberry)

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Phormium 'Pepe' is a compact New Zealand flax prized for its fine green foliage and neat mounding growth habit. This hardy evergreen provides year...

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Echinopsis oxygona growing a pot with pink flowers.
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Dietes iridioides, commonly known as the African Iris or Fortnight Lily, is a hardy, evergreen perennial native to southern Africa. It features...

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Fagus sylvatica 'Purple Fountain' specimen tree.
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The Purple Fountain beech is a variety of European Beech tree that features colourful foliage and weeping branches. The glossy leaves emerge deep...

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Phormium 'Green Dwarf' flax plant in a native garden with Oioi plants.
Phormium 'Green Dwarf'

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An elegant Alstroemeria 'White Buttons' plant with white flowers in a pot.
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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
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Phormium 'Purple Haze'

Phormium 'Purple Haze' is a striking New Zealand flax admired for its rich purple bronze foliage and graceful arching form. This evergreen plant...

OUT OF STOCK
Phormium 'Dark Delight'

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Acaena, Acer, and Dianella, or related Categories - Flaxes, Groundcover Plants, and Indoor Plants.

Search purple flax lily

Why Choose Purple Flax Lily?

Purple flax lily stands out for its versatility and year-round good looks. With arching leaves in shades of purple and blue-green, it’s an ideal solution for gardeners seeking an alternative to traditional New Zealand flax. The purple flax lily creates lush clumps that work well as ground cover or accent plants, thriving in both full sun and part shade. During the warmer months, it sends up slim stalks topped with clusters of small, star-like purple blooms, followed by decorative berries. This species is highly drought-tolerant and can handle coastal conditions, making it a reliable choice for a wide range of locations.

Perfect Planting Companions

Pair purple flax lily with other striking foliage plants for a dynamic effect. For a similar form with deeper burgundy tones, consider Phormium tenax purpureum (Purple Flax) or introduce Phormium 'Purple Haze' (Purple Flax Plant) for stunning contrast. If you're looking for more compact options, Dianella 'Little Jess' offers a neat, clumping habit that complements purple flax lily in mass plantings or borders. For an extra pop of colour, Dianella Blaze brings vivid foliage and seasonal interest to mixed beds or containers.

Easy Care for Kiwi Gardens

One of the best features of the purple flax lily is its low-maintenance nature. It prefers well-drained soil but will tolerate sandy or clay sites once established, and it needs only occasional watering during dry spells. To encourage healthy growth, give plants a light mulch in spring and remove spent flower stems as needed. The purple flax lily is resistant to many garden pests and diseases, so you can confidently include it in native plantings or busy family gardens.

Design Ideas and Uses

Purple flax lily is a go-to choice for borders, pathway edges, and mass planting in large landscape projects. It’s equally at home cascading over retaining walls or adding structure to mixed perennial beds. Urban gardens benefit from its compact, architectural form, and it’s frequently used to soften the look of hardscaping in modern outdoor designs. For more inspiration, explore striking cultivars like Phormium 'Jester' if you love dramatic foliage combinations.

Bring Colour and Texture to Your Garden

Whether you’re designing a new outdoor space or refreshing an old favourite, the purple flax lily adds lasting colour and impact. Its unique tones and hardy nature make it an unsurpassed option for gardens throughout New Zealand. Explore our range of companion plants and complementary flaxes to create a truly eye-catching landscape.


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.

–The Plant Company

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