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small flax plants

Looking for small flax plants to brighten up your garden with easy-care New Zealand natives? Compact flaxes are the perfect choice for adding year-round colour, structure, and texture to landscapes of any size. Whether you're searching for a neat border solution, low-maintenance groundcover, or a container-friendly feature, these versatile plants offer architectural form and robust performance. New Zealand's dwarf Phormium cultivars are well-suited to coastal gardens, harsh winds, and both urban and rural sites, making small flax plants a favourite among gardeners nationwide.

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 forms a clump around 40–60 cm tall and wide, making it perfect for edging, borders, pots, or mass planting.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 75 cm
Spread: 60 cm
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, Mediterranean, Modern, Native, Riparian
Phormium 'Jack Spratt' plants for sale at The Plant Company nursery.

Phormium 'Jack Spratt'

5 from 1 customers

Phormium 'Jack Spratt' is one of the smallest New Zealand native flax varieties, admired for its narrow, upright leaves in rich bronze to dark chocolate tones. Compact and stylish, it provides year round colour and architectural form, making it perfect for smaller gardens, rockeries, and pots.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Flaxes
Height: 60 cm
Spread: 60 cm
Flowering time: Summer
Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, 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 '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...

From$14.95
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$14.95
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...

From$8.50
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...

From$19.95
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
Dianella tasmanica (Tasman Flax Lily) plants with green foliage and blue flowers.
Dianella tasmanica

Dianella tasmanica, commonly known as the Tasman Flax Lily, produces upright, strap-like leaves which are a rich, dark green and have a lush...

From$19.25
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$14.95
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...

From$249.95
Large Black Rage Phormium in a garden with black foliage.
Phormium 'Black Rage'

Phormium 'Black Rage' is a striking New Zealand native flax known for its bold, upright leaves in deep shades of dark purple to near black. This...

From$19.95
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$14.95
zieria-prostrata--1
Zieria prostrata

Zieria prostrata is a low growing shrub, often used as a groundcover, and favoured for its pretty flowers. Through spring and summer, it bears masses...

From$12.95
zamioculcas-black-knight-
Zamioculcas Black Knight (Zamioculcas Plant)

Zamioculcas Black Knight is a very popular indoor plant owing to its dark and showy foliage. It grows as a clump and produces upright fronds which...

From$41.33
Sedum rubrotinctum (Jelly Bean Plant) bright red foliage.
Sedum rubrotinctum (Jelly Bean Plant)

Sedum rubrotinctum, commonly known as Jelly Bean Plant or Pork and Beans Plant, is a compact, low-growing succulent reaching 15–20 cm tall and...

From$21.39
Japanese Box (Buxus microphylla) plants with lush green foliage.
Buxus microphylla (Littleleaf Boxwood)

Buxus microphylla, commonly known as Japanese Box or Littleleaf Boxwood, is a compact evergreen shrub renowned for its dense, glossy green foliage...

From$44.95
Haworthia mirabilis 'Triebneriana' plant.
Haworthia mirabilis triebneriana

Haworthia mirabilis Triebneriana is a compact succulent admired for its detailed rosettes, textured foliage, and easy care nature. It is an excellent...

From$15.11
pittosporum-small-ball-
Pittosporum 'Small Ball'

Pittosporum 'Small Ball' is a compact evergreen shrub prized for its naturally rounded growth habit, dense foliage, and tidy appearance. This dwarf...

From$22.01
Haworthia fasciata succulent growing in a pot.
Haworthia fasciata

Haworthia fasciata is a popular compact succulent recognised for its upright green leaves marked with distinctive white bands. Its bold pattern and...

From$15.11
dianella-revoluta-kentlyn--2
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...

From$16.49
haworthia-glabrata-
Haworthia glabrata

Haworthia glabrata is a compact succulent admired for its detailed rosettes, textured foliage, and easy care nature. It is an excellent choice for NZ...

From$17.87
Juncus effusus plants growing in water.
Juncus effusus (Soft Rush Plant)

Juncus effusus (Spiral Rush) is an eye catching rush valued for its distinctive twisting green stems, compact clumping habit, and strong...

From$16.49
clianthus-puniceus-
Clianthus puniceus (Parrot Beak Plant)

Clianthus puniceus (Kakabeak) is a spectacular New Zealand native shrub renowned for its striking clusters of brilliant red, beak shaped flowers that...

From$44.09
Sophora microphylla specimen tree covered in yellow flowers.
Sophora microphylla (Small Leaved Kōwhai)

Sophora microphylla, commonly known as Weeping Kowhai, is a treasured New Zealand native tree admired for its graceful, drooping branches and masses...

From$28.91
indoor-plant-fertiliser-tablets-1
Indoor Plant Fertiliser Tablets

Indoor plants require feeding from the time you get them home as nurseries typically only put enough fertiliser in the pots to last 4-8 weeks after...

From$34.95
White flowers on a Cistus 'Snowmound' plant with green foliage.
Cistus 'Snowmound' (White Rock Rose Plant)

Cistus ‘Snowmound’ is a compact evergreen shrub that produces a breathtaking display of pure white flowers with golden-yellow centres from late...

From$24.77
Plant watering bottle for watering a plant on a shelf.
Plant Watering Bottle

Plant Watering Bottles provide a simple and convenient way to deliver water directly to indoor plants, seedlings, cuttings, and small container...

From$55.13
climbing-rose-cecil-brunner-1
Rose Cecil Brunner

Rose 'Cecil Brunner' is a treasured old fashioned climbing rose, admired for its sprays of small, perfectly shaped soft pink flowers and delicate...

From$30.29
Dianella nigra plant with masses of blue berries.
Dianella nigra (New Zealand Blueberry)

Dianella nigra, commonly known as the New Zealand Blueberry or Tūrutu, is a NZ native that features lush foliage and glossy berries that vary in...

From$16.49
70-windbreak-2
Shadecloth - 70% Shade (Shade Cloth For Plants)

This shade cloth for plants, which is also used as plant windbreaks, reduces light levels and windspeeds by 70%. Therefore, 30% of the wind or light...

From$499.80
Moss pole for plants.
Moss Pole For Plants (Moss Pole For Plants)

These moss poles for plants are made from Coir Fibre (i.e., the husks of coconuts). They are an eco-friendly option to help plants grow healthier and...

From$6.90
half-litre-plant-pots-
0.5 Litre Plant Pots

0.5 Litre Plant Pots are a practical choice for growing young plants, herbs, seedlings, and smaller ornamentals. Their compact size makes them ideal...

From$23.04
Phormium 'Green Dwarf'

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

Search small flax plants

Why Choose Small Flax Plants?

Small flax plants provide all the beauty and resilience of larger New Zealand flax, but in a manageable size. Most compact varieties reach between 30cm and 60cm tall, making them ideal for edging pathways, enhancing rockeries, or mass planting without overwhelming smaller spaces. Their sword-like leaves bring stunning foliage colour—ranging from brilliant emerald green to deep burgundy and nearly black—and many produce vibrant flower spikes that attract native birds.

These hardy evergreens are drought-tolerant once established and thrive in sun or part shade. They're also low-fuss, coping well with a variety of soils and requiring only occasional grooming to look their best. If you want a garden staple that pops with Kiwi character and needs minimal maintenance, small flax plants fit the brief perfectly.

Top Dwarf Flax Varieties

Explore some of our most popular compact flax cultivars:

Planting and Care Tips

To get the best results from your small flax plants, choose a spot with well-drained soil and plenty of light, though most cope admirably in partial shade. Arrange them in groups for visual impact or use as singles in pots and small spaces. Give each plant enough room for their mature spread—most dwarfs appreciate around 40-60cm spacing.

Water new plantings regularly until established, then enjoy their drought tolerance. An annual tidy-up of spent leaves will keep your flaxes looking crisp. Apply a light mulch to suppress weeds and conserve moisture, especially during dry spells.

Enhance Your Garden With Small Flax Plants

Whether you're revamping a contemporary landscape or weaving more texture into a cottage garden, small flax plants offer timeless New Zealand beauty without the hassle. Browse our range, including Phormium 'Pepe' (Dwarf Flax), Phormium 'Green Dwarf', Phormium 'Surfer', Phormium 'Black Pepe' (Dwarf Black Flax), and Phormium 'Emerald Gem', and find the perfect small flax plants for your space. Add these low-maintenance natives to your landscape for lasting structure and year-round appeal.


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.

Our garden favourites Corokia 'Geenty's Green' and Ficus Tuffi get lots of love, but don’t miss out on a few lesser-known delights: Trachelospermum jasminoides variegatum (Variegated Star Jasmine), Camellia 'Yuletide', and Nestegis montana (Narrow-Leaved Maire).
–The Plant Company

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