New Zealand flax

Bring a note of the tropics to your garden with the bold, colorful, strappy leaves of New Zealand flax. They are excellent as container plants that can be overwintered with protection, but in warm areas, they're spectacular planted directly in the ground.

Flower panicles may reach 12 feet tall in some selections with red or yellow tubular flowers. Blooms only appear in mild climates, but there they attract many species of birds. If space is limited, check out dwarf forms.

While New Zealand flax is a popular perennial in frost-free areas, it's becoming more and more loved in northern regions, where it's treated as an annual.

Light:

Sun,Part Sun

Zones:

9-11

Plant Type:

Annual,Perennial

Plant Height:

6-12 feet tall, depending on variety

Plant Width:

6-10 feet wide, depending on variety

Flower Color:

Red, yellow, or green flowers, depending on variety; variegated or red/purple leaves depending on variety.

Bloom Time:

Blooms summer, remaining into fall

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders,Slopes

Special Features:

Flowers,Attractive Foliage,Fall Color,Winter Interest,Attracts Birds,Attracts Hummingbirds,Attracts Butterflies,Drought Tolerant,Tolerates Wet Soil,Deer Resistant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

---

Sunset New Zealand flax

(Phormium 'Sunset') is an upright 5-foot flax with 1 1/2-inch wide leaves. These are bright pinkish red, striped with olive especially along the margins. Zones 9-11
view >

Dark Delight New Zealand flax

(Phormium 'Dark Delight') has evergreen 1- to 2-inch-wide strap-shaped leaves in dull purple. This hybrid has leaves 4 feet long. Zones 9-11
view >

Garden Plans

---

Soft Elegance Container Garden
Classic Container Garden Plan
Fall Deckside Garden Plan
Drought-Tolerant Slope Garden Plan

Plant It With

---

Phlox

The pure white flower clusters of David phlox show off dramatically against dwarf forms of deep-red-leaved New Zealand flax in sun.

Sunflower, perennial

Seven-foot-tall swamp sunflower is a match for New Zealand flax in height. Its bright yellow daisies contrast well with dark flax leaves.

Dahlia

Tall yellow, pink, bronze, or red dahlias are fine companions for New Zealand flax in sunny garden or large containers.

Anemone

The pink semi-double flowers of Queen Charlotte anemone blend well with red-leaved forms of New Zealand flax in light shade.

Propagation

---

Seed
Division