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yellow flax varieties

If you're searching for yellow flax varieties to bring vibrant colour and architectural interest to your New Zealand garden, flax (Phormium) offers a stunning selection. Known for their resilience, versatility, and year-round appeal, these native plants can brighten coastal gardens, formal landscapes, or container displays. Whether you want a striking feature with stand-out foliage or a low-growing accent to complement mixed borders, there is a yellow flax variety to suit every need.

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 $12.95

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'

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.

From $12.95

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 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$12.95
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...

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$14.95
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$9.95
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...

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
strelitzia-reginae-mandelas-gold-
Strelitzia Mandelas Gold (Yellow Crane Flower)

Strelitzia reginae Mandelas Gold, commonly known as Yellow Crane Flower or Yellow Bird Of Paradise, produces spectacular yellow flowers through...

From$44.09
gelsemium-sempervirens-1
Gelsemium sempervirens

Gelsemium sempervirens (Yellow Jessamine) is a graceful evergreen climber admired for its fragrant trumpet shaped yellow flowers that appear from...

From$37.19
quercus-canariensis-2
Quercus canariensis

Quercus canariensis is a stately, deciduous tree with colourful autumn foliage. The lush foliage emerges light green in spring, ages to become dark...

From$270.40
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$12.95
Dianella 'Margaret Pringle' plant in a pot.
Dianella 'Margaret Pringle'

Dianella 'Margaret Pringle' bears spikes carrying delicate, blue flowers in spring, which are followed by small, blue berries in summer. These are...

From$20.63
clivia-yellow-
Clivia 'Yellow' (Natal Lily)

Clivia 'Yellow' is a stunning evergreen perennial that produces elegant clusters of rich yellow flowers above deep green strap like foliage...

From$22.01
dianella-caerulea-goddess-
Dianella Goddess

Dianella Goddess is a variety of the commonly known, NZ Flax Lily, and produces upright, strap-like leaves which are a rich, dark green with a blue...

From$20.63
dianella-revoluta-kentlyn--2
Dianella Kentlyn

Dianella Kentlyn is a variety of the commonly known, Flax Lily, produces upright, strap-like leaves which are a rich, dark green with a blue...

From$16.49
A mass planting of Dianella caerulea 'Little Jess' plants with lush, green foliage.
Dianella 'Little Jess'

Dianella 'Little Jess' is a variety of NZ Flax Lily that bears spikes carrying delicate, blue flowers in spring above lush, mid-green leaves. Small...

From$16.49
acer-princeton-gold-
Acer platanoides Princeton Gold (Princeton Gold Maple Tree)

Acer platanoides Princeton Gold is a variety of the commonly known, Plane-Leaved Maple, and is a medium sized tree with fantastic foliage. The leaves...

From$349.95
genista-yellow-imp-3
Genista 'Yellow Imp'

Genista Yellow Imp (Yellow Broom) is a bright and cheerful evergreen shrub admired for its masses of vivid yellow flowers that cover the plant in...

From$27.53
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
malus-arrow-gold-
Malus Arrow Gold

Malus Arrow Gold, commonly known as the Golden Crabapple, bears masses of single, pink flowers through spring which gradually age to white. These...

From$387.55
geum-tempo-yellow-
Geum 'Tempo Yellow'

Geum 'Tempo Yellow' is a cheerful perennial that produces bright yellow flowers over a long flowering period, adding vibrant colour to NZ gardens...

From$16.95
Rosa banksiae 'Lutea' growing on a pergola and featuring masses of stunning yellow flowers.
Rosa banksiae 'Lutea' (Banksia Rose)

Rosa banksiae 'Lutea' (Yellow Banksia Rose) is a stunning climbing rose admired for its masses of soft yellow double flowers produced in spring. This...

From$30.29
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$17.95
helleborus-yellow-
Helleborus Yellow Hybrid (Hellebore)

Helleborus Yellow Hybrid is a cheerful winter-flowering perennial that produces soft yellow blooms from mid to late winter. Ideal for brightening...

From$19.95
Dianella Revelation plants growing in a garden.
Dianella 'Revelation'

Dianella 'Revelation' features flower stems that rise above the foliage through spring and summer to bear masses of delicate, blue flowers, which...

From$16.49
phormium-wildwood-
Phormium 'Wildwood'

Phormium 'Wildwood' is a striking New Zealand flax valued for its rich bronze green foliage and strong architectural form. This hardy evergreen...

From$17.95
A large Phormium 'Dark Delight' plant with elegant, purple foliage.
Phormium 'Dark Delight'

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...

From$17.95
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$12.95
camellia-japonica-brushfields-yellow-
Camellia 'Brushfields Yellow'

Camellia 'Brushfields Yellow' is a highly sought after evergreen shrub admired for its creamy white outer petals surrounding a soft yellow petaloid...

From$27.95
Camellia japonica 'Jurys' Yellow' flowers with dark green foliage.
Camellia japonica 'Jurys Yellow'

Camellia japonica Jury's Yellow is an evergreen shrub that features showy, double, cream-coloured flowers through winter and spring. These...

From$199.95
Phormium 'Black Magic' plants in a large pot and featuring elegant, dark-coloured foliage.
Phormium 'Black Magic'

Phormium ‘Black Magic’ is a striking NZ flax prized for its deep purple black foliage and strong architectural form. This evergreen variety adds year...

From$17.95
Phormium 'Surfer'

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Gelsemium, Phormium, and Strelitzia, or related Categories - Evergreen Climbers, Flaxes, and Perennials.

Search yellow flax

Why Choose Yellow Flax Varieties?

Yellow flax varieties are popular for their bold foliage, which can add a ray of sunshine to garden beds, borders, and pathways. Their distinctive yellow and gold tones catch the light, creating lively contrasts with greens, bronzes, and reds. Besides their ornamental value, flaxes are hardy, drought-tolerant, and salt-wind resistant—making them perfect for exposed spots and coastal gardens throughout New Zealand. As evergreens, these varieties offer structure and colour even in winter, providing year-round interest.

Best Yellow Flax Varieties for New Zealand Gardens

When it comes to yellow flax, gardeners are spoilt for choice. One of the most popular options is Phormium 'Yellow Wave'. With graceful, arching leaves striped in lemon-yellow and green, Phormium 'Yellow Wave' brightens any planting scheme and works beautifully as a specimen plant or border feature.

For those who like to experiment with textures and heights, consider mixing yellow flax with other compact cultivars like Phormium 'Jack Spratt' and Phormium 'Surfer'. While not yellow themselves, these smaller varieties pair seamlessly with their yellow-toned relatives, creating designer combinations for smaller gardens and container planting.

Colour enthusiasts can also play with flaxes that bring a hint of yellow within their multi-coloured foliage. Phormium 'Jester' offers eye-catching pink and green leaves brushed with creamy yellow, while Phormium 'Evening Glow' provides a blend of crimson and apricot tones—a perfect complement to vivid yellow forms.

How to Grow and Care for Yellow Flax Varieties

Caring for yellow flax varieties is simple, making them ideal for everyone from beginners to seasoned gardeners. These adaptable plants thrive in full sun or partial shade and tolerate a range of soils, preferring free-draining spots. Once established, flaxes are easy to maintain—just remove older leaves at the base in spring to keep your plants looking their best. Apply organic mulch to help retain moisture and suppress weeds for a tidy, low-maintenance display.

Design Ideas with Yellow Flax

Yellow flax varieties are hugely versatile. Use them in modern gardens for striking lines or soften cottage gardens by pairing them with flower-rich shrubs and natives. They are equally suited to mass plantings, feature pots, or edging for garden paths. Their bold leaves stand out against darker foliage, while the upright yet arching form adds structure wherever they are planted.

Find Your Perfect Yellow Flax Variety

Explore the wonderful diversity of yellow flax varieties to transform your garden with bold colours and year-round foliage. For inspiration, be sure to see standout options like Phormium 'Yellow Wave' and complementary cultivars such as Phormium 'Jack Spratt', Phormium 'Evening Glow', Phormium 'Jester', and Phormium 'Surfer'—perfect for New Zealand gardens seeking something special.

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 are classic choices, but adventurous gardeners will enjoy Sophora godleyi (Godleys Kowhai), Camellia 'Pure Silk', and Corokia 'Geenty's Giant'.
–The Plant Company

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