Cordyline australis

Cordyline australis seed (15/08/2011, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Well drained soil

Flowering period: Summer

Eventual Height: 8m

Eventual Spread: 4m

Hardiness: 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Asparagaceae

Cordyline australis is an evergreen monocotyledon tree with a tufted habit. Its palm-like foliage emerges from the growing tips of the branched trunk in dense rosettes of pale green, waxy, lanceolate leaves. In summer it bears large hanging panicles composed of small, slightly fragrant, pale cream flowers.

Cordyline australis commonly known as the Cabbage Tree, is native to New Zealand and has been naturalised in many countries including the UK. It was traditionally used by the Maori people as both a source of food and to produce an extremely strong rope.

The etymological root of the binomial name Cordyline is derived from the Greek kordyle meaning ‘club’. Australis is derived from the Latin referring to its origins on the Australian continent.

Cordyline australis (15/08/2011, London)

Cordyline australis may be useful to the landscape architect as a low maintenance and exceptional drought tolerant low growing tree. It is also tolerant of salty coastal conditions. Its distinctive form and foliage make it an effective specimen tree and it associates well with grasses, spiky plants and prairie style planting.

Cordyline australis has many ecological associations in its native New Zealand but these plants and animals are usually not found on this continent significantly lowering its ecological impact.

The Royal Horticultural Society gave Cordyline australis their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993. The cultivars Cordyline australis ‘Albertii’ and ‘Lemon Fountain’ gained the award in 1994 and 2004 respectively with ‘Sundance’, ‘Torbay Dazzler’ and ‘Torbay Red’ all receiving the award in 2002.

Cordyline australis will tolerate almost any soil conditions; it will be happy at neutral, acid or alkaline pH levels, in loam, chalk, clay or sand based soils, in a west or south facing, sheltered aspect.

Cordyline australis requires little maintenance. Dead foliage may be removed from the tree and swept from beneath the plant. In colder parts of the UK the crown of the tree may need protecting with horticultural fleece during the winter months.