Imagine sitting in your garden in the summer sun with shadows from this architectural beauty dancing on your patio! With its pale-green spikes of evergreen foliage, rising in dense clumps from the base of each plant, Cordyline australis looks incredible all year round, and in summer mature plants produce clusters of sweetly scented, ivory-white blossom followed by berries in the autumn.
Their long, graceful, sword-shaped type leaves look fantastic in beds, borders or containers on your patio. Their striking appearance makes a fantastic focal point and will give any garden or patio a touch of the exotic. Compact and vigorous, they are perfect for gardens of all shapes and sizes and despite their exotic looks, are hardy to -7°C. Plant yours in a sunny spot and it will thrive for years to come!
Water plants freely during the growing season, and sparingly in winter.
Feed monthly with a balanced, liquid fertiliser from spring to late summer. Top-dress or pot up in spring.
Although frost hardy, young Cordyline plants, and also coloured varieties are more prone to cold damage. This can be prevented by tying up the foliage to reduce wind damage and prevent water collecting around growing points and causing rotting.
In areas prone to severe winters, wrap the trunk with layers of fleece and place a 15cm (6in) layer of mulch, such as bark, over the root area.
Move container grown plants to a frost-free location, such as a greenhouse, during periods of cold or wet weather - temporary shelter in a shed or garage will do.
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