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Cordyline australis - (G.Forst.)Hook.f.

Common Name Cabbage Tree
Family Agavaceae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Forest margins and open places. Abundant near swamps. North, South and Stewart Islands[44].
Range New Zealand.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Cordyline australis Cabbage Tree


Cordyline australis Cabbage Tree
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Carstor

 

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Summary

Sometimes misspelt as Corydeline australis


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Cordyline australis is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 5 m (16ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Dracaena australis. Forst.f.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Root  Shoots  Stem
Edible Uses: Sweetener

Root - baked[105, 153, 173, 177]. It can also be brewed into an intoxicating drink[183]. Pith of the trunk - dried and steamed until soft[173]. Sweet and starchy, it is used to make porridge or a sweet drink[173]. The root and stems are rich in fructose, the yields compare favourably with sugar beet (Beta vulgaris altissima)[153]. Edible shoots - a cabbage substitute[105, 128, 173]. The leaves are very fibrous even when young, we would not fancy eating them[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Fibre  Paper

The leaves contain saponins, but not in commercial quantities[153]. The leaves contain a strong fibre, used for making paper, twine, cloth, baskets, thatching, rain capes etc[1, 46, 61, 128, 153]. The whole leaves would be used for some of these applications. When used for making paper, the leaves are harvested in summer, they are scraped to remove the outer skin and are then soaked in water for 24 hours prior to cooking[189]. Carbon farming - Industrial Crop: fiber.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Food Forest  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Industrial Crop: Fiber  Management: Standard  Minor Global Crop

Prefers a good sandy loam rich in humus[1]. Succeeds in full sun or light shade[188]. A very wind hardy plant, tolerating maritime exposure[49, 166]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is not very cold-hardy, tolerating short-lived lows down to about -10°c[260]. It only succeeds outdoors in the milder areas of Britain[1, 11, 59]. It grows very well in Cornwall where it often self-sows[1, 11, 59]. A form with purplish leaves is hardier than the type and succeeds outdoors in Gloucestershire[11]. The flowers have a delicious sweet scent that pervades the air to a considerable distance[245]. Mice often kill young plants by eating out the pith of the stem[11]. Carbon Farming Cultivation: minor global crop. Management: standard.

Carbon Farming

  • Industrial Crop: Fiber  Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!
  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
  • Minor Global Crop  These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for about 10 minutes in warm water and sow in late winter to early spring in a warm greenhouse[78, 164]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 25°c[164]. There is usually a good percentage germination[78]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts and give the plants some protection in their first winter outdoors[K]. Stem cuttings - cut off the main stem just below the head and then saw off 5cm thick blocks of stem and place them 3cm deep in pure peat in a heated frame. Keep them moist until they are rooting well, then pot them up into individual pots. Plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Suckers. These are best removed in early spring and planted out in situ. Protect the division from wind and cold weather and do not allow the soil to become dry until the plant is established. Divisions can also be potted up and grown on until established, planting them out in the summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

No

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cordyline indivisaCabbage TreeTree8.0 7-10 SLMSNM302

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(G.Forst.)Hook.f.

Botanical References

1144200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Jack Adams   Sun Jun 26 01:30:39 2005

I have had some success growing these plants from seeds, but have lost quite a lot with some form of root rot. The plants rots at the base and dies. Can you also explain in more detail how I can propogate from stem cuttings. Exactly which leaves do I take off, please

Sandra Mayne   Fri Aug 24 2007

My sister has 4 cordylines..2 x green leaf and 2 x purpleish leaf. We would like to know if she re-pots them, would it harm the young plants if she puts them in very large pots to avoid re-potting again at a later date. We are finding that their roots very quickly outgrow a pot.

david owellen   Sat May 3 2008

my cordyline has developed yellow spots and the ends of the leaves are splitting what will cause this please

Mary McArdle   Sat Jun 28 2008

are the flower heads meant to be removed after flowering or will this damage the plant?

gracy dias   Wed Aug 27 2008

my friend had cordyline australis which is about 7 feet tall, which she wanted to get reed so, i brought and planted in my garden. while taking the plant from the ground two main roots which were deep in the ground broke off. while the other roots round the base of the tree holding the soil are there, will the tree still grow?.

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