Create Your Garden

Phormium tenax ‘All Black’ (New Zealand Flax)

New Zealand Flax 'All Black', Phormium 'All Black'

Phormium tenax 'All Black', New Zealand flax 'All Black', Phormium 'All Black', Dark Phormium, Hardy Phormium, Bronze Phormium, Chocolate Phormium, Purple Phormium

Adding majesty to the garden year-round, Phormium tenax ‘All Black (New Zealand Flax) is a very ornamental and robust evergreen perennial featuring a basal rosette of dark chocolate, strap-shaped leaves up to 6 ft. in length (2 m). The architectural and richly colored foliage is topped in summer with a dramatic flowering stalk bearing panicles of tubular, red flowers which attract nectar-seeking birds. Native to New Zealand, Phormium tenax is primarily grown for its attractive foliage and makes a stunning focal point in the garden. Most plants do not flower until they are fully mature.

  • Adds architectural height to the garden and grows up to 5-6 ft. high (150-180 cm) and 4-5 ft. wide (120-150 cm).
  • Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
  • Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Salt and drought tolerant.
  • Deer and rabbit resistant
  • Great for beds and borders, city gardens, coastal gardens, gravel gardens or Mediterranean gardens. Excellent as container plant!
  • Virtually disease free. Watch for mealybug
  • Propagate by seed sown in spring or by division in spring
  • Remove dead or damaged leaves in the spring

Requirements

Hardiness 8 - 11
Heat Zones 2 - 11
Climate Zones 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Xanthorrhoeaceae
Genus Phormium
Common names Flax, New Zealand Flax
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 5' - 6'
(150cm - 180cm)
Spread 4' - 5'
(120cm - 150cm)
Spacing 60" (150cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low, Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Salt, Rabbit
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Coastal Garden, City and Courtyard, Mediterranean Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Phormium (Flax)
Not sure which Phormium (Flax) to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Phormium tenax Purpureum Group (New Zealand Flax)
Phormium ‘Dark Delight’ (New Zealand Flax)
Phormium ‘Amazing Red’ (New Zealand Flax)
Phormium ‘Yellow Wave’ (New Zealand Flax)
Phormium ‘Platt’s Black’ (New Zealand Flax)
Phormium tenax (New Zealand Flax)

Recommended Companion Plants

Arctotis x hybrida ‘Flame’ (African Daisy)
Kniphofia ‘Percy’s Pride’ (Red Hot Poker)
Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron’ (Japanese Blood Grass)
Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ (Feather Reed Grass)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 8 - 11
Heat Zones 2 - 11
Climate Zones 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Xanthorrhoeaceae
Genus Phormium
Common names Flax, New Zealand Flax
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 5' - 6'
(150cm - 180cm)
Spread 4' - 5'
(120cm - 150cm)
Spacing 60" (150cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low, Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Salt, Rabbit
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Coastal Garden, City and Courtyard, Mediterranean Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Phormium (Flax)
Not sure which Phormium (Flax) to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Phormium tenax ‘All Black’ (New Zealand Flax) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Phormium tenax ‘All Black’ (New Zealand Flax) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone