Cabbage Tree

(Cordyline australis)

Cabbage Tree (Cordyline australis)

Torquay Palms

CC BY-SA 2.0

Image By: Torquay Palms

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Copyright Notice: Photo by: Torquay Palms | License Type: CC BY-SA 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ | Uploader: Torquay Palms | Publisher: Flickr

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Cordyline australis, commonly known as the cabbage tree, tī kōuka, or cabbage-palm, is a widely branched monocot tree endemic to New Zealand, where it is found in a variety of habitats including open grasslands, forests, and along coastlines. It can grow up to 20 meters (66 feet) tall with a stout trunk and sword-like leaves clustered at the tips of the branches, which can be up to 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches) long. The cabbage tree’s form is distinctive with its tall, straight trunk and dense, rounded heads, making it a characteristic feature of the New Zealand landscape. It produces panicles of fragrant, cream to white flowers from late spring to early summer, which are followed by white or blue-tinted berries that are a favorite food source for the kererū and other native birds.

The cabbage tree is valued for its dramatic appearance and versatility in cultivation. It is often used as a focal point in gardens and landscapes and is suitable for urban planting due to its tolerance of wind and coastal conditions. It is also grown in pots and tubs, especially in regions with cool oceanic climates where it adds an exotic, palm-like touch to the setting. Cordyline australis requires full sun to part shade, medium water, and well-drained soils. It is easy to propagate from fresh seed, shoot, stem, and even trunk cuttings, with seedlings frequently appearing spontaneously from bird-dispersed seed. However, it is potentially invasive in some regions, such as California, and should be planted with caution outside its native range.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Tree
Height: 6-15 feet
Width: 3-6 feet
Growth Rate: Slow
Flower Color: White
Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
Leaf Retention: Evergreen

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium
Drainage: Slow, Medium

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Erosion Control, Fire Resistant, Fragrant, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rock Garden, Salt Tolerant, Street Planting, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Open grasslands, forests, and coastlines, with fragrant cream to white flowers in late spring to early summer, and white or blue-tinted berries

Other Names

Common Names: Syddracena

Scientific Names: , Cordyline australis, Dracaena indivisa, Dracaena australis, Cordyline australis var. atropurpurea, Dracaena chemnitzii, Terminalis australis, Charlwoodia australis, Cordyline australis var. aurea-striata, Cordyline australis var. lineata

GBIF Accepted Name: Cordyline australis (G.Forst.) Endl.