5x Purple Mountain Flax - $7.99 each

Phormium cookianum ‘Purple’

Common Names: Purple Mountain Flax, Purple Wharariki
Family: Asphodelaceae
Origin: New Zealand
Plant Type: Evergreen native flax

Overview

Phormium cookianum ‘Purple’ – Purple Mountain Flax is a colourful form of New Zealand mountain flax, grown for its long, arching foliage in rich purple, bronze and burgundy tones. Compared with the generally larger and more upright Phormium tenax, Mountain Flax has a softer, more flowing habit, with leaves that naturally arch outwards from the centre of the plant.

Purple Mountain Flax provides strong year-round colour and architectural form while still fitting naturally into native planting. It is particularly useful where a substantial flax is wanted without the very large, rigid appearance of some traditional flax varieties.

Key Features

• Rich purple to bronze-purple foliage

• Attractive arching, flowing growth habit

• Evergreen colour and structure throughout the year

• Hardy and adaptable New Zealand native

• Excellent architectural or feature plant

• Useful for banks, slopes and exposed sites

• Works well in both native and contemporary landscapes

• Low maintenance once established

Mature Size

Approximately 1–1.5 m high × 1–1.5 m wide.

Growth and ultimate size will vary depending on soil, climate and growing conditions.

Ideal Growing Conditions

Purple Mountain Flax grows best in full sun to partial shade. Good light encourages stronger foliage colour, while plants grown in heavier shade may develop greener tones.

It is adaptable to a wide range of New Zealand conditions and soils, provided drainage is reasonable. Once established it is hardy and tolerant of wind, cold and periods of dry weather. Like most flax, it will grow more strongly where there is reliable moisture and reasonable soil fertility.

Landscaping & Garden Uses

The strong foliage colour of Purple Mountain Flax makes it particularly useful for creating contrast amongst predominantly green native planting. Use it as an individual feature plant or repeat it through a larger planting to create rhythm and continuity.

It is well suited to native gardens, contemporary landscapes, banks and slopes, driveway planting, larger borders, rural gardens and mass planting. The arching foliage also combines particularly well with grasses, compact shrubs and contrasting green or silver-leaved natives.

Allow enough room for the plant to develop its naturally broad, arching form rather than squeezing it between other large shrubs.

Care & Maintenance

Purple Mountain Flax is generally very low maintenance once established. Water regularly during establishment, particularly through the first summer or during extended dry periods.

Older or damaged leaves can be removed cleanly from near the base when required. Removing old foliage periodically keeps the plant looking fresh while retaining its natural form.

An application of general garden fertiliser during the growing season can encourage healthy growth, particularly in poorer soils.

Additional Tips

For the strongest purple foliage colour, choose an open position with plenty of light. When planting several plants together, allow for their mature spread so that the individual arching forms remain visible.

Purple Mountain Flax can also be used as a strong contrast plant amongst green natives such as Coprosma, Corokia, Griselinia and native grasses.

Fun Fact / Botanical Insight

Phormium cookianum is commonly known as Mountain Flax or Wharariki and is naturally found throughout New Zealand. Unlike the typically more upright Phormium tenax, its foliage tends to arch and droop, giving Mountain Flax its characteristic softer, cascading appearance.

Why Choose Phormium cookianum ‘Purple’?

Choose Purple Mountain Flax when you want a hardy New Zealand native with strong architectural form and year-round purple foliage. Its combination of colour, toughness and flowing form makes it an easy way to introduce contrast into native gardens, contemporary landscapes and difficult exposed sites.

These are our standard size in 7 cm square pots.