Phormium cookianum

Mountain Flax

The smaller growing species of the two native flax generally available. With attractive gracefully drooping long bright green leaves, this all purpose, low maintenance plant is a great choice for wet or dry, sun or shade, exposed or sheltered.

1m x 1m

Phormium tenax

NZ Swamp Flax

The taller, more upright of the two native flax generally available. Fast growing and capable of handling extreme conditions, wet or dry. Leaves generally olive-bronze in colouration. Makes a nice wind break or informal hedge and thrives in coastal conditions.. Flowers only add interest to this hardy native.

3m x 2m

Phormium 'Chocolate Cookie'

This colourful new variety has broad upright foliage that slowly spreads and weeps with age. The leaves are a deep chocolate brown and hold their colour well. It is a medium sized flax that can do well in a variety of sites and has a low water requirement once established. It will also grow well in a decorative pot or container.

1.5m x 1.5m

Phormium 'Tricolour'

An old cultivar going back some 30 years, but still as popular as ever. This creamy variegated flax has an upright habit with a slight arch. The attractive foliage has deep green centre stripe with cream margins and a dramatic red leaf edge.

2m x 2m

Phormium 'Merlot'

Similar to the green NZ Flax this hybrid is dynamic in colour and form. It has an upright habit and maintains colour well. Very hardy to coastal conditions. Can also do well in a pot.

3m x 2m

Phormium 'Bronze Baby'

Another smaller growing bronze coloured flax, this popular addition to the garden has erect evenly bronzed leaves that weep slightly with age. Small and compact it can be used to best effect when mass planted or used to contrast with other natives, shrubs or grasses. Though not the smallest growing flax, it is tolerant to a wide range of conditions and is well suited to growing in a decorative pot or container.

0.6m x 0.6m

Phormium 'Chocolate Fingers'

This popular smaller growing flax is a great addition to the garden. Being compact growing, it is well behaved and the foliage is a beautiful chocolate bronze colour. Like many flax it is a low maintenance addition to the garden that is tough and tolerant of a wide range of conditions and is drought hardy once established. Looks great mass planted as a groundcover and will also perform well in a decorative pot.

0.5m x 0.5m

Phormium 'Yellow Wave'

This yellow and green variegated flax is the most popular of the yellow types currently available. With arching, drooping leaves, with a strong yellow central band that has a thin edging of mid-green. Like all flax, ideal for low maintenance gardens and excels when planted in mass with some contrasting groundcovers. Great for coastal gardens and highly drought and wind tolerant once established.

1.2m x 1.2m

Phormium 'Jester'

This relatively new release is a colourful addition to the NZ native garden. This cultivar has very attractive leaves that have a bright pink central band that is edged with a bright lime-green margin. The leaves are slightling arching. Thrives in a wide range of conditions.

0.9m x 0.9m

Phormium 'Jack Spratt'

This small beauty is a popular low maintenance groundcover with a dramatic brown-bronze colouration that contrasts well with other natives. The leaves are erect yet arching, with a thin central green band bordered by thick brown-bronze edging.

0.6m x 0.6m

Phormium 'Dazzler'

This flax cultivar has attractive arching bronze leaves with deep red stripes. With a dense weeping habit, this flax has so many good features - it is fast growing, low maintenance, tolerates coastal winds, moist, average and dry soil conditions, has attractive flowers and foliage, frost tolerant, encourages birds and wildlife into the garden - the list goes on.

1m x 1m

Phormium 'Surfer'

One of the smaller growing flax available, this cute little plant has twisted, erect leaves that have an overall olive bronzy colouration. Generally the leaves are brown bronze with a yellow-green central stripe with the leaf margin and keeled mid-rib being black. Will form a thick clump.

0.8m x 0.8m

Phormium 'Rainbow Red'

Of all the red forms of the flax cultivars currently available, this is one of the most popular. The beautiful leaves are green-bronze and striped in a deep crimson-red colouration. Like all flax, this one has so many good features being fast growing, tolerant of coastal winds and moist or dry soil conditions. It has a slightly weeping arch to the foliage and the attractive flowers encourage birds and wildlife into the garden. Mulch well and fertilise regularly - an outstanding plant suited to mass planting or in a pot.

1m x 1m