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small flax varieties

Small flax varieties are the perfect choice for compact gardens, pots, or as statement border plants in New Zealand landscapes. If you love the distinctive architectural look and hardy nature of New Zealand flax but have a modest space or want to soften the edges of a path, exploring dwarf and miniature flaxes is a great option. These low-growing Phormiums deliver all the colour, texture, and resilience of their larger relatives, without taking over your garden. Whether you’re filling a rockery, planting in coastal conditions, or searching for low-maintenance foliage, small flax varieties offer versatility and beauty in equal measure.

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.

From $8.50

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 '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 $14.95

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 '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$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-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 '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 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
Callistemon 'Little John' shrub in a courtyard garden covered in elegant, red flowers.
Callistemon 'Little John'

Callistemon 'Little John' is a compact dwarf bottlebrush celebrated for its deep red flowers and fine blue green foliage. Flowering from spring into...

From$27.53
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
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
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
Callistemon 'Burgundy Jack' shrub with purple flowers.
Callistemon 'Burgundy Jack' (Bottlebrush)

Callistemon 'Burgundy Jack' is a striking bottlebrush renowned for its vivid burgundy red flower spikes and fine evergreen foliage. Blooming from...

From$27.53
A Sophora chathamica tree growing in a garden with green foliage.
Sophora chathamica

Sophora chathamica (Coastal Kōwhai) is a stunning New Zealand native tree known for its masses of bright yellow flowers that appear in early spring...

From$323.65
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
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
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
Pittosporum eugenioides tree with lush, dark green foliage and cream-coloured flowers.
Pittosporum eugenioides (Tarata)

Pittosporum eugenioides, commonly known as Tarata or Lemonwood, is a fast-growing native New Zealand tree valued for its glossy green leaves and...

From$15.04
A Kunzea robusta shrub with masses of pretty, white flowers.
Kunzea robusta

Kunzea robusta (White Tea Tree) is a fast growing NZ native tree known for its fine foliage and masses of small white flowers that attract bees and...

From$8.97
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
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
pb-three-quarter-planter-bags-
Planter Bags 3/4 (Seedling Bags)

PB 3/4 Planter Bags are a practical option for growing and establishing small plants, seedlings, shrubs, and young trees. Made for nursery and...

From$15.47
Lomandra 'Echidna' grass growing as a mass planting beside a path.
Lomandra Echidna

The Lomandra Echidna grass is a tough and reliable plant with outstanding aesthetics. It features lush, mid-green foliage held upright with a gentle...

From$17.87
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
Acer 'Mikawa Yatsubusa' specimen tree with lush, green foliage.
Acer palmatum 'Mikawa Yatsubusa'

Acer palmatum 'Mikawa Yatsubusa' is a sought-after dwarf Japanese Maple prized for its dense, layered foliage and elegant form. Its small...

From$299.95
Citrus australasica (Finger Lime) fruit with yellow flesh cut in half.
Citrus australasica

Citrus australasica, commonly known as the Finger Lime or Caviar Lime, is an evergreen shrub grown for its unusual fruit, which is regarded as a food...

From$34.95
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 resendeana plant.
Haworthia resendeana

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

From$20.63
osmanthus-heterophyllus-
Osmanthus heterophyllus

Osmanthus heterophyllus, commonly known as False Holly, is an evergreen shrub grown for its attractive foliage and pretty flowers. It produces spiny...

From$37.19
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
A stunning Cordyline 'Salsa' plant with pink and purple striped foliage.
Cordyline 'Salsa'

Cordyline 'Salsa' is a striking evergreen foliage plant valued for its colourful, sword shaped leaves and strong architectural form. The vibrant...

From$25.95
Phormium 'Green Dwarf'

Did you find what you are looking for?

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

Search small flax

What Makes Small Flax Varieties Special?

Small flax varieties, also known as dwarf or miniature Phormiums, typically grow up to 30-60cm in height, making them a popular choice for urban gardens, containers, or mass plantings. Their sword-shaped leaves add structure and movement to any setting, and they’re well-respected for their tolerance to wind, salt spray, and drought once established. Many small flax varieties come in a range of leaf colours and bandings, so you can match your plantings to your style, from vivid lime greens to deep chocolate browns.

Top Small Flax Varieties for New Zealand Gardens

If you’re planning to incorporate small flax varieties into your planting design, consider these standout selections:

How to Plant and Care for Small Flax Varieties

Most small flax varieties thrive in full sun to partial shade, in free-draining soil. They are wonderful additions to windy coastal gardens or exposed locations where other plants might struggle. Feed with compost on planting, water deeply in the first few months, and once established, enjoy their hardy, evergreen foliage year-round. For best results, trim spent leaves at the base to keep your flaxes looking neat and tidy.

Where to Use Small Flax Varieties

Small flax varieties are versatile and work beautifully as low hedges, specimen plants, or textured groundcovers. Their neat growth makes them perfect for garden borders, adding structure to native gardens, or providing contrast in mixed perennial beds. They pair well with grasses, hebes, or other native shrubs for a cohesive, low-fuss planting scheme.

Discover the full range of small flax varieties at our nursery and enjoy the combination of New Zealand character, resilience, and compact beauty in your garden design.

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.
Ficus Tuffi and Coprosma acerosa may be the stars of the show, but unsung heroes like Feijoa 'Bambina', Metrosideros 'Maori Princess', and Pittosporum 'Midget' (Dwarf Pittosporum) deserve a moment in the sun.
–The Plant Company

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