A striking, upright flax with very dark, deep purple-brown, almost black leaves. A plant that wears the night. The leaves are sword-like, up to 80 centimetres in length, with a smooth, leathery texture. The colour is so dark that it appears almost black in some light, with subtle purple-brown undertones visible in bright sun. A plant that hides its colours until the light hits. The plant forms a tidy, arching clump. The leaves radiate from the centre of the clump, curving outward and downward to create a fountain-like shape. The overall form is upright and architectural, making it a bold statement in any garden setting. A plant that demands to be noticed. Dark Delight Flax is extremely hardy, tolerating drought, wind, salt spray and frost. It is perfect for modern landscapes, coastal gardens, borders and mass plantings. The very dark foliage provides a dramatic backdrop for brighter coloured plants, creating depth and contrast in the garden. A plant that makes others look brighter. The cultivar was selected for its very dark, dramatic foliage. It is named Dark Delight for the intense, rich colour that brings delight to gardeners who appreciate dark, moody plants. The parent species, Phormium tenax, is a large, green flax, but this cultivar was bred for its striking colour. To find Dark Delight Flax is to look in modern gardens and landscapes throughout New Zealand. It is a plant of cultivation, not of the wild. The garden is modern. The flax stands, dark leaves almost black, fountain-shaped and dramatic. The sun hits. Purple-brown undertones appear. The plant does not know it was bred for its colour. It does not know it is dramatic. It just grows. That is what it was made to do.