Cordyline australis (common names: New Zealand cabbage palm)

Latest photos of Cordyline australis

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Cordyline australis (aka New Zealand cabbage palm)


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Members growing this plant

  • bluebell

    Bluebell

    joined 4 Jul, 2007

    8 plants

  • peter

    Peter

    joined 31 Jan, 2007

    30 plants

  • maple

    Maple

    joined 15 May, 2007

    15 plants

  • mikefearn

    Mikefearn

    joined 7 Nov, 2007

    5 plants

  • maxgarden

    Maxgarden

    joined 4 Dec, 2007

    68 plants

  • AndreaRichter

    Andrearichter

    joined 15 Nov, 2007

    71 plants

  • Grenville

    Grenville

    joined 7 Aug, 2007

    138 plants

  • TigerLily

    Tigerlily

    joined 3 Apr, 2008

    1 plant

  • majeekahead

    Majeekahead

    joined 18 Oct, 2007

    377 plants

Questions on Cordyline australis

smalley

Smalley

17 May, 2008

3 replies

re planted cordyline and it looks like its dying

Help ive replanted my cordyline and its looking brown at the bottom and this appears to be moving upwards. Its 4ft high and i would like to save the plant as its taken 4 years to grow.
View or answer question


maryborough

Maryborough

9 Jun, 2008

1 reply

Cordyline

I want my cordyline to stop growing up and to start branching out (thickening). Will cutting off the flowers or trimming the top make this happen? Thanks
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Pamhughes

Pamhughes

14 Jun, 2008

0 replies

Size

Our tree is getting too big, can we cut it down and if we do will it shoot from the trunk?
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brendon

Brendon

28 Jun, 2008

0 replies

potting compost for Cordyline

If planted in a patio tub, what type of potting compost is best to use for this plant?
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Comments on Cordyline australis

jacque

Jacque

10 Feb, 2008

 

Leaves are FANTASTIC

On photo - Cabbage Tree 1

Muddy_Boots

Muddy_boots

17 May, 2008

 

Hi

I have three of these and they all have gone like that. Seems to me that it is just the old leaves dieing off.

The two ruby cordylines I have are looking a bit down, but I shall be giving them a good feed.

Ken

treesandthings

Treesandthi..

17 May, 2008

 

To keep them looking neat, you can pull these off. I have done this on all of mine. It's just the old leaves from previous years.

paulap

Paulap

4 Jun, 2008

 

Hi, this is quite normal. if you want height to your cordylines, then it is best to remove most of the bottom section anyway, as this promotes the growth upwards, and produces a fuller, healthier plant.
paula

bonkersbon

Bonkersbon

9 Jun, 2008

 

Hi Mary welcome to goy hope the rain has stopped not called the Emerald Isle for nothing! In answer to your question if you look closely at your cordyline youll see that new shoots grow from outer edge - these can be cut to keep in shape but to trim existing leaf kills it. You end up with a mass of dead central growth surrounded by new leaf on the outside of the plant.There is no way to restrict height only width - would be rather like trying to make a palm tree bush out instead of growing up. Oh you may find that peeling off dead lower leaves[gloves required] encourages bushier growth but wont stop height Im afraid.

On question - Cordyline

Members' notes...

bluebell

Sheltered, sunny site
In any fertile, well drained soil

peter

Planted either side of the kitchen window 29th July 2007.
New Zealand native, grows to about 6ft. label says temperatures to -5C

maple

Cordyline are palm-like evergreen shrubs or tree-like perennials, with rosettes or tufts of linear or narrowly lance-shaped, leathery leaves, and terminal panicles of fragrant, cup-shaped flowers followed by small, spherical berries.

C. australis is a small evergreen tree with several stout branches arising from a single trunk. Leaves long, sword-shaped, in dense clusters at the branch tips. Large panicles of small, fragrant cream flowers.
Soil
Acid, Alkaline or Neutral.
Moist but well-drained or well-drained.
Chalk, Clay, Loam or Sand.

Aspect
West or South facing.
Sheltered.

Propagation
Propagate by seed or suckers.

mikefearn

i think this is the plant in the front garden. not really sure though.

TigerLily

Three growing, all in south facing borders
Green - 16 years old about a metre tall
Green with red stripe - 8 years old about three metres tall!!
Purpureum - 4 years old - original shoot died - now had two side shoots growing (recently damaged by man with ladders!)

majeekahead

bought from wilkos mid may 2008, to replace the Acer that died in the back of the woodland bed. although i do refer to this area as the woodland bed it is actually quiet a hot bed with lots of afternoon sun, which should be ideal for this Cordyline.

Exotic evergreen foliage plant forms a clump of arching dark red sword like leave on a sturdy stem, height 120cm x spread 150cm in 10 years, sheltered site in sun or partial shade and well drained fertile soil. no pruning needed!

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