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Back to NZ Native Plants
More Native Plant Profiles
New Zealand flaxes are wonderful, dramatic architectural plants that are valued, even cosseted, in many Northern Hemipshere gardens. They grow so easily and are so tough in their native land that it is easy to take them for granted. They add a unique, kiwi touch to the garden and they are so very useful, as well as extremely tough, in the garden.
Suited to tropical and exotic gardens, as well as to more traditional styles, New Zealand flaxes can find a place in almost any garden. Grow flaxes for textural contrast, for their bold form, use them for shelter and for the range of colour in their sword-like leaves. But do grow them.
Phormium tenax
Harakeke or New Zealand Flax
Phormium tenax is the iconoclastic New Zealand flax, seen widely in marshy ground, at the coast and, increasingly, in street and roadside plantings. The fans of grey-green leaves, some 2.0 to 3.0 m high, are very wind hardy. A deep maroon flower spike, with nectar that is irresistible to birds, can reach 4.0m. The seeds are held erect and the flower 'spike' lasts until the new season. P. tenax is a large and vigorous plant, give ample growing room
Cultivation Grows in most soils but more vigourous in wet, swampy ground. Control growth by removing base rosettes each season
Propagation Division, Seed
Phormium 'Platts Black'
Cultivar 'Platt's Black' is tiny and grows to only 20cm (10in) or so
Cultivation Most soils, water until established.
Propagation Division
Phormium 'Green Dwarf'
'Green Dwarf' is a neat, architectural plant that will reach 1.0 metre and is extremely useful in the border.
Cultivation Most soils, water until established.
Propagation Division
Native Grasses and Flax
Amongst our most verstaile and fascinating plants are the graases, sedges and flax that are so wonderful mass planted. Our guide to how, where and what to grow |
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Astelia chathamica
Astelia chathamica, often seen as 'Silver Spear', is a silvery-leaved 'flax', wonderful colour and texture contrast.
Cultivation Happy in most soils in either sun or shade, astelias can tolerate a moist and/or windy, exposed position
Propagation Division, Seed
Astelia nervosa
Astelia nervosa is a flax-like clump-forming perennial with green leaves that have a prominent rib, often tinged with maroon. Male and female flowers are borne on different plants, the stubby, green flower spike buried deep in the rosette of leaves.
Cultivation Happy in most soils in either sun or shade, astelias can tolerate a moist and/or windy, exposed position
Propagation Division, Seed
Collospermum hastatum
Collospermum hastatum, related to the familiar Astelia is epiphytic (i.e. grows in a host tree) and slow growing. The leaves are green and arching, not upright, to about 1.5-1.8 (4-6ft) long. Rather than hiding in the foliage the long beautiful racemes of creamy-yellow flowers hang from the plant.
Cultivation Grow in moss bound to a tree in part-sun or shade, needs a moist environment and protection from severe frosts.
Propagation Division, Seed
Mountain flax, Phormium cookianum
P. cookianum, the mountain flax or wharariki, is a smaller native flax than P. tenax. The leaves are arching and a light yellow-green. Growing to about 1.0 metre (3ft) with an attractive flower spike of bright yellow flowers that are rich in nectar. The seed heads are hang from the old flower spike.
Cultivation Grows in a wide range of soils and conditions
Propagation Division, Seed
Phormium tenax or Harakeke (New Zealand Flax)
Phormium tenax is the iconoclastic New Zealand flax, seen widely in marshy ground, at the coast and, increasingly, in street and roadside plantings. The fans of grey-green leaves, some 2.0 to 3.0 m high, are very wind hardy. A deep maroon flower spike, with nectar that is irresistible to birds, can reach 4.0m. The seeds are papery and the flower 'spike' lasts until the new season. P. tenax is a large and vigorous plant, give ample growing room
Cultivation Grows in most soils but more vigourous in wet, swampy ground. Control growth by removing base rosettes each season
Propagation Division, Seed | | |
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