Also known as cabbage palms, cordylines are evergreen shrubs or palm-like trees from New Zealand. Young plants look like a low fountain of strappy foliage, then as they mature they form a strong stemand can reach 3–10m (10–30ft) tall, resembling an exotic palm. If you were to look close you would find that the stem of the plant is soft at the top. Firstly, at the moment I will do nothing. When the weather begins to warm up in March, probably towards the end of that month I will remove all of the dead leaves by cutting them away. This will leave a clear stem and crown. When all the leaves are cleared the best thing to do is grab the trunk and feel your way down the trunk until it feels very hard and woody – then cut the top of the Cordyline off. Over the summer it will reshoot along the stem and from the base again. These shoots will develop into full woody stems again. You’ll probably end up with a multi-stem specimen in time.

How to grow cordyline / RHS Gardening

If your plant is affected, remove the damaged growth and destroy it. Disinfect your tools after doing this to prevent spreading the problem. A fungicide may be used for severely affected plants. Root Rot C. Australis can tolerate temperatures of -5 but only if planted in a sheltered area. In coastal regions, it can cope well with temperatures as low as 1. More tender varieties will need to be protected in winter and kept at temperatures of 5-15°C The bacteria penetrate deep into the stem tissues, and when the sugary sap rises in spring this is fermented by the bacteria to produce the foul-smelling slime. Gasses are also produced which force the slime out under pressure and may result in further stem splitting. A range of bacterial species, as well as other organisms such as yeasts and fungi, are often found within the slime, all taking advantage of the sugars within the sap. Other trees, shrubs and climbersCordyline stems can grow from the base of the plant or off of an existing stem. Either stem can be used for cuttings. Just be careful not to damage nearby stems. With weather patterns becoming increasingly unpredictable it is hard to know what to expect & how to prepare our most vulnerable plants for extremely cold spells. Before this second harsh winter they were just gorgeous, they had divided up, I have five stems on one and three on the other one. Not tall like some in my area that have grown really high, these seem to have stayed and the height they are for a couple of years now. Research the height and spread of your cordyline, which will give you an idea of how it's going to grow into its space

Cordylines -Tips from Garden Centre in North London UK Caring for Cordylines -Tips from Garden Centre in North London UK

This plant will grow in sand, clay, chalk or loam. However, the ground should be well drained and reasonably fertile. In poor soil, dig in plenty of organic compost or well-rotted manure before planting. In heavy soils add plenty of grit. Fertiliser RequirementsTender species such as C. Marginata, C. Stricta and C. Fruticosa will need to be moved indoors or placed in a heated greenhouse with a minimum temperature of around 15°C. Repotting Cordylines are generally low maintenance, needing little watering once established. When grown in containers, however, they require regular watering and feeding, and winter protection, except in mild areas. So be prepared to either bring them indoors or move them to a sheltered spot and wrap them with fleece. Watering

Cordyline Care Guide: How to Grow Cordyline - DIY Garden

This is a cultivar variety. It has three colours and often combines green leaves with a pinkish-red stripe down the centre, cream stripes and pink edges. It reaches a mature height of around 4 metres (13 feet). C. Australis ‘Torbay Dazzler’ The bacterial ooze can be scrubbed off to reduce the offensiveness of its appearance and smell. However, the ooze can not be plugged or stopped; and there is no cure Don't give up hope yet, Beth - we also had a couple of big, old cordylines that looked dead after the harsh winter we had last year. There are 15 different cordyline plant varieties. There may be several different varieties of cordyline at your local nursery that have varying patterns and colors. Some of them prefer slightly different conditions than others. That said, their core care remains the same. You should feel free to select your cordyline based on which one you like best, not necessarily its specific requirements. Caring for Cordylines – What to do if your Cordyline leaves have browned off on the outside but crown is still ok:Most are not fully hardy in the UK, although Cordyline australis may survive the winter outdoors in mild areas. It's generally bestto bring plants indoors over winteror provide them with winter protection. How and what to buy Poor growth, yellowing and browning of the foliage or excess leaf drop – these may be caused by cold, wet weatherin winter, ordrought and heat stressin summer. Improve the growing conditions and provide winter protection. Cordylines are best planted in spring, after the last frost. This gives them time to get established before winter, increasing their chances of survival.

Everything You Need to Know About Cordyline Plant Care

It looks equally good in city or coastal gardens and anywhere you want to add an element of the exotic. These plants are woody-stemmed shrubs, often grown for their attractive evergreen foliage. The sword-like leaves are shades of green, bronze, reddish orange and purple. As they grow, they lose their lower leaves and begin to look like stately palm trees.

Cordylines require little pruning, simply remove dead leaves and spent flowers. You can also remove any stems or leaves that have suffered winter damage. It is best to wait until the harshest weather is over before doing this. With their bold, architectural appearance, cordylines make striking focal points. As well as green-leaved cultivars, there are some with dark red or purple foliage, or with yellow, pink or white stripes. However, purely because it would have been a major undertaking to remove them, we just cut the main stem down to almost ground level in the spring with the idea of hiding the stumps with other planting around them. On most Cordylines the top 3 cm or so would have been damaged but this varies on how old and tall the woody stem is. Once you have cut off the top of the Cordyline paint the cut with Arbrex which is available in most garden centres with a decent garden shop.