Colours and scent Flowers: White Fruit: Leaf: Green Stem: Grey, Brown Variegated leaf: No Scent: Yes, sweet Aroma location: roots
Size and shape Height: 12.00m Height at 10yrs: 4.00m Spread: 4.00m Spread at 10yrs: 3.00m Shape: Fan
Evergreen, Seasons of interest... Blooms/foliage interest in: Summer Evergreen: Yes
Cordyline australis Cabbage tree of New Zealand, Giant Dracaena, Ti
Plant Names... Botanical name: Cordyline australis Common name: Cabbage tree of New Zealand, Giant Dracaena, Ti Also known as:
Plant Type... Plant botanical type: Shrub
Use For... Architectural
Description... A lovely spiky plant of some elegance, this starts off as a fan of leaves but soon begins to hoist itself up on a stout stem. It can eventually become an evergreen tree up to 4m (15ft) high with a clean vertical trunk and forking branches. It settles happily in coastal gardens. There are sometimes creamy white flowers in huge panicles that are deliciously fragrant in June. The plant needs a sheltered spot as hard winters may kill it. The leaves make a rustling sound in breezes, as though engaged in private conversations. In New Zealand the Maoris dried the pith and used it to make a porridge-like substance.
Awards Royal Horicultural Society's Award of Garden Merit
(RHS AGM)
Typically available as
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Seeds
(GA0)
(GA3)
(GA6)
(GA9)
Bulbs
(GA1)
(GA4)
(GA7)
(GA10)
Plants
(GA2)
(GA5)
(GA8)
(GA11)
Cordyline australis
Planting your new plant
Water the plant thoroughly when you get it home, and plant out as soon as possible. Make the hole for the plant larger that the pot it is in and the same depth. When removing the plant from the pot, squeeze the sides of the pot to loosen it. Loosen the roots of the plant, put the plant in the hole spreading the roots to encourage them to grow outwards. Fill round the edges of the rootball with soil to the same level as the surrounding soil.
Care for your plant
Plants in containers need plant food to thrive when in growth. Seek advice from your retailer regarding best product(s). Follow the packet instructions when applying plant food. Remove fading flowers to encourage fresh ones.
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