Cordyline Australis 3 Litre Pot

Cordyline australis (Cabbage Palm)

Cordyline australis is a striking evergreen architectural plant that brings a bold, tropical feel to gardens throughout the year. With its long, sword-shaped green leaves and elegant upright trunk as it matures, it creates a dramatic focal point in borders, patios and contemporary planting schemes. Despite its exotic appearance, Cordyline australis is fully hardy across most of the UK and is remarkably easy to grow.

Perfect for adding height, structure and year-round interest, Cordyline australis looks equally at home in coastal gardens, modern landscapes and traditional cottage gardens.

Why Grow Cordyline australis?

Architectural Evergreen Foliage – Produces long, arching green leaves that create a bold, tropical appearance throughout the year.

Excellent Focal Point – Develops an attractive trunk with age, adding height and structure to borders, patios and feature planting.

Beautiful Summer Flowers – Mature plants produce large sprays of fragrant creamy-white flowers during summer, followed by decorative berries that attract wildlife.

Coastal & Wind Tolerant – Performs exceptionally well in exposed and coastal gardens, making it an excellent choice for challenging locations.

Hardy & Low-Maintenance – Fully hardy throughout most of the UK, drought tolerant once established and requiring very little maintenance.

Planting & Care Guide

Position: Prefers full sun or partial shade. A sunny position encourages the strongest growth and healthiest foliage.

Soil: Thrives in fertile, well-drained soil and adapts well to loam, sandy soils and free-draining clay. Avoid areas that remain waterlogged during winter.

Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season while the roots establish. Once established, Cordyline australis is relatively drought tolerant and generally only requires watering during prolonged dry spells.

Maintenance:

• Remove older, damaged or weathered lower leaves as required to keep the trunk tidy.
• Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring to encourage healthy new growth.
• In colder areas, protect the growing point during prolonged periods of severe frost by tying the leaves together and wrapping the crown with horticultural fleece.
• Container-grown plants may benefit from additional winter protection.

Perfect Plant Combinations

Cordyline australis pairs beautifully with other architectural and Mediterranean-style plants such as Phormium, Yucca, Agapanthus, Dicksonia antarctica and Trachycarpus fortunei. It also contrasts wonderfully with ornamental grasses like Stipa tenuissima and flowering perennials such as Verbena bonariensis, Lavender and Salvia. Whether planted as a dramatic specimen, used to frame an entrance or incorporated into a tropical-style border, Cordyline australis provides outstanding height, structure and year-round garden interest.