small phormium

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

Small phormium adds year-round colour, texture, and easy-care structure to New Zealand gardens of every size. These compact, hardy varieties of native New Zealand flax are ideal for spaces where traditional phormium types might overwhelm the landscape. Perfect for borders, rockeries, containers, and mass plantings, small phormium cultivars offer striking foliage and architectural form without outgrowing their welcome. If you’re searching for bold foliage colour in a lower-growing, manageable plant, small phormium varieties are the answer.

Phormium 'Surfer'

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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. With its stylish appearance and easy care nature, Phormium 'Surfer' is a popular choice for NZ gardeners wanting a reliable and decorative plant.

Buy Phormium 'Surfer'

From $18.23

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'

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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. Hardy and low maintenance, Phormium 'Jack Spratt' thrives in diverse NZ conditions and is an excellent choice for gardeners wanting a versatile and decorative native flax.

Buy Phormium 'Jack Spratt'

From $18.23

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

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Ligularia, Phormium Pittosporum and Sophora, or related Categories - Flaxes, Perennials Evergreen Shrubs and Evergreen Trees.

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Why Choose Small Phormium?

Small phormium varieties are specially bred selections of Phormium tenax and Phormium cookianum that remain compact, generally reaching only 30-60cm high. Their tidy habit and versatility give you enormous landscaping potential—enjoy them as a feature in small urban gardens, edge a pathway, or underplant larger shrubs for texture contrast. Because small phormium is drought-tolerant, wind-hardy, and unfazed by coastal conditions, it thrives even where other ornamentals may struggle.

Top Small Phormium Varieties for New Zealand Gardens

Ready to transform your garden with compact, colourful native flax? Choose from these standout small phormium cultivars:

Phormium 'Pepe' (Dwarf Flax): This charming miniature forms a fountain of lime-green leaves and only grows to about 30cm high. Phormium 'Pepe' (Dwarf Flax) is perfect for edging or using in pots, bringing a fresh pop of colour wherever you need it.
Phormium 'Surfer': A wavy-leafed beauty, Phormium 'Surfer' creates striking movement in the garden. Its compact form and blue-green leaves with bronze margins add a coastal feel to borders and containers.
Phormium 'Elfin': Small but mighty, Phormium 'Elfin' offers tough-as-nails performance with tidy, upright green-blue foliage. It's an excellent choice for small spaces and gravel gardens.
Phormium 'Black Pepe' (Dwarf Black Flax): Make a dramatic statement with Phormium 'Black Pepe' (Dwarf Black Flax). This variety features deep purple-black leaves that form a compact clump, giving contrast and drama, even in modern or tropical gardens.
Phormium 'Jack Spratt': With slender, deep bronze leaves, Phormium 'Jack Spratt' offers a sleek accent for mixed beds or city planters. Its low, upright form works beautifully in contemporary garden designs.

How to Grow and Use Small Phormium

Plant small phormium in full sun or light shade for the best foliage colour. These versatile natives are happy in most well-drained soils and will handle both exposed and sheltered sites. For containers, combine them with low, trailing natives, or use small phormium as a feature in minimalist, low-maintenance arrangements. Water well during establishment, but once mature, these flaxes are highly drought tolerant, needing little ongoing care.

Small phormium plants are deer- and rabbit-resistant and create excellent habitat for native birdlife. They’re also fantastic for erosion control on banks and slopes due to their strong root systems.

Bring Your Garden to Life with Small Phormium

With striking foliage, easy-care nature, and adaptability to varied conditions, small phormium is the smart choice for New Zealand gardeners who want versatile, colourful structure in their landscape. Browse our premium selection of compact flaxes, including Phormium 'Pepe' (Dwarf Flax), Phormium 'Surfer', Phormium 'Elfin', Phormium 'Black Pepe' (Dwarf Black Flax), and Phormium 'Jack Spratt', and discover the perfect small phormium for your outdoor 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.