Cordyline australe CABBAGE TREE

🌴 Cordyline australis — the New Zealand “Cabbage tree.”

🔍Overview

• Scientific name: Cordyline australis
• Family: Asparagaceae
• Origin: New Zealand
• Common name: Cabbage tree, cabbage palm (sometimes in French), tī kōuka (Maori name)

🌿Description

• Size: Up to 15 to 20 meters tall in its natural habitat, but often smaller in cultivation.
• Leaves: Long, narrow, stiff, light green to dark green, often arranged in rosettes at the top of the branches.
• Habit: Tree-like appearance, often branched, with a thin, smooth trunk.
• Flowers: White to cream, very fragrant, in large upright panicles.
• Fruits: Small white or bluish berries, popular with birds.

🌡️ Climate and hardiness

• Relatively hardy: down to -23°F for well-established specimens.
• Prefers temperate to mild climates, but can adapt to cooler climates with protection.
• Resistant to wind, drought, and salt spray (perfect for coastal areas).

🌱 Cultivation

• Exposure: Full sun or partial shade.
• Soil: Well-drained, light, not too calcareous.
• Watering: Moderate; drought-resistant once mature.
• Propagation: By seed (slow growth) or by suckers at the base.

🌎Uses and interest

• Ornamental: Very popular in gardens for its architectural and exotic appearance.
• Potted cultivation: Possible in containers, especially in cold climates (bring indoors or protect in winter).
• Traditional uses: The Maori used the young leaves as food (hence the name “cabbage tree”). Fibers were also extracted for ropes, baskets, etc.

⚠️ Note

There are other Cordylines often called “cabbage palm” or “cabbage tree”:

• Cordyline fruticosa (tropical plant, often red or variegated)
• Cordyline indivisa (rarer species, with wider leaves)

• Not to be confused with certain tropical palms or the Cabbage palmetto (Sabal palmetto) from the United States.