Black Adder Phormium
Phormium colensoi 'FIT01'
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Black Adder Phormium is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
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Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150+ | $24.99 |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Black Adder Phormium highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Fall Color
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Pruning Time
Growing Zones 8-10
Striking Dark Accent Black Adder Phormium
- Bold Form Catches the Eye
- Erect, Sword-Like Leaves
- No Sharp Points
- Delightful Droop at Leaf Tips
- Incredible Dark Burgundy Color Won't Fade in the Sun
- Lustrous Finish Reflects the Sun
- Full Sun to Part Shade
- Compact and Easy Care
- Versatile
- Excellent "Thriller" in Containers
- Add Nearly Black Foliage for Cut Flower Arrangements
- Tolerates Coastal Conditions
- Moderately Drought Tolerant Once Established in the Soil
- Resists Wind
- Deer and Rabbits Don't Prefer the Taste
- Featured on Firewise Plant Lists
For an on-point architectural focal point for your garden, rely on one of the darkest Phormiums on the market. The incredible hue and form of Black Adder Phormium (Phormium colensoi 'FIT01' PP #20,451) makes a striking accent plant throughout your landscape.
"Touchable" blade-like leaves stand up straight without being stiff or pokey. The strappy leaves droop enchantingly at the ends.
A breeding breakthrough, Black Adder is one of the very darkest cultivars of New Zealand Flax.
Although the complex color is nearly black, it is burnished with a deep burgundy-red overcast.
The glossy finish helps protect the exceptional color from fading in strong sun. It can be grown in-ground, in containers, in full sun or partial shade.
Clump-forming Black Adder tolerates heat, salt, wind, and periodic drought once established if grown in soil. Rabbits and deer tend to leave it alone.
Compact Black Adder Phormium is a perennial with "personality plus". Use it with pride to make a graphic visual statement in your low-maintenance landscape.
People love using these popular plants, don't miss out! Go ahead and order Black Adder Phormium from Nature Hills as soon as you see it in stock on the site.
How to Use Black Adder Phormium in the Landscape
Use a single plant as a fantastic specimen in an outdoor container. Duplicate this treatment for a very modern statement along the length of a balcony, patio or deck.
Try a matching pair flanking either side of your front door to boost curb appeal. Your home's exterior will be ready to grace the cover of magazines.
Use several plants as a colorful, low hedge to define your landscape. Plant 18 inches apart on center, measuring from the center of one to the center of the next.
Black Adder also plays well with other plants. Use as a high-contrast accent in a mixed shrub border; repeating their use in a sinuous ribbon of dark color.
Even Northern gardeners in colder zones can enjoy their handsome good looks of their upright leaves in seasonal containers.
Once Black Adder Phormium is established in your soil, it needs only occasional watering. Use in Xeriscapes, gravel or rock gardens.
This plant is listed on several state Firewise Plant lists. Use in your defensible zone to help protect your property.
#ProPlantTips for Care
Plant in full sun or part shade. Black Adder needs at least four hours of direct sunlight for the best color.
Well-drained soils are a must, so elevate your planting in a raised bed or container if you see puddles long after a rainfall. Bring in a heap of additional soil and plant in that mound.
Pay careful attention to water the first season, and for the life of containerized plants. Give it water in prolonged droughts to protect your investment.
In late winter, remove older, damaged or discolored leaves out at the base of the clump. Do not shorten using straight cuts along the top. Rather, trim at a diagonal all the way down at the bottom.
Allow the leaf remnant to dry for a week, then come back and remove it completely. Try to enjoy this time with your plant as an exercise in mindfulness.
There is nothing as compelling as a properly cared for Phormium. Order the fascinating, dark Black Adder Phormium from our expert growers today.
