Cabbage palm (Cordyline australis)

Cabbage palm (Cordyline australis) is a tree that can grow 3m – 8m tall and 3m – 8m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Cabbage palm (Cordyline australis).

This plant has several common names including: cabbage palm, cabbage tree, New Zealand cabbage palm, New Zealand dragon plant or palm lily.

This is a evergreen plant that takes 20-50 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: cabbage palm, cabbage tree, New Zealand cabbage palm, New Zealand dragon plant, palm lily
Scientific name: Cordyline australis
Plant type: Trees
Habit: Tufted
Height: 3m – 8m
Spread: 3m – 8m
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained, Well drained
Garden type: Architectural, Coastal
Planting type: Low Maintenance
Other characteristics: Drought resistant, RHS Award of Garden Merit

Seasonal colors

How to plant Cabbage palm (Cordyline australis) – MurielBendel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trees are essential plants in gardens, large and small, with their sculptural presence.

In terms of design, they add height, structure and interest all year round with attractive flowers, foliage, fruits and trunks.

In addition, they provide home and a food source for birds and other wildlife.

How to plant

In this section we will learn how to plant Cabbage palm (Cordyline australis), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.

Soil

Cabbage palm (Cordyline australis) is a plant that adapts to all types of soils, chalk, clay, loam or sand.

• The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.

• Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).

• The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.

• Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.

It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.

Regarding drainage, Cordyline australis likes to grow in moist but well drained or well drained soils.

Sunlight

Cabbage palm (Cordyline australis) is a plant that should be grown in full sun or partial shade positions.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Cabbage palm (Cordyline australis) – Kahuroa, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons