Cordyline australis ( New Zealand Cabbage Tree )
A fast growing, small to medium-sized tree that is single stemmed at first but eventually develops a densely branched, broad crown. It is native to New Zealand. Some records include: first year - 3 feet; 5 years - 13 x 5 feet; 20 years - 33 feet; largest on record - 70 x 20 feet with a trunk diameter of 5 feet. It can live up to 500 years old and the trunk can reach up to 9 feet across at the base. It has been known to reach as much as 51 feet with trunk diameter of 42 inches in Ireland.
The arching, pointed, sword-shaped leaves are up to 48 x 5 ( rarely over 40 x 3 )inches in size.
The fragrant, starry, creamy-white flowers are borne on wide panicles during late spring into summer.
They are followed by berries that range from white to blue.
Hardy zones 8 to 11 ( tolerating as low as 0 F ). It tolerates both wet conditions and temporary drought.
* historic archive photos
'Red Star'
Reddish-purple foliage.
* photos taken on Aug 15 2015 @ Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD
* photos taken on Sep 18 2017 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Oct 28 2017 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Aug 9 2020 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Sep 6 2020 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Nov 15 2020
Cordyline fruticosa ( Hawaiian Ti )
A tropical shrub, reaching up to 13 x 4 feet in size, that is native to tropical southeast Asia, northern Australia and the Pacific Islands. Very popular as a landscape plant in the tropics, it is sometimes used as an annual accent plant in cooler regions. Some records include: largest on record - 20 x 8 feet with a trunk diameter of 3 inches.
The leaves are up to 36 x 6 ( rarely over 30 x 4 ) inches in size.
The white to bright purple flowers are borne on clusters up to 12 inches in length. Hardy zones 9 to 12
'Rubra'
Foliage is pink at first, turning to deep red.
* photos taken on Jan 4 2011 @ Deerfield Beach, Florida
* photos taken on July 12 2016 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on June 22 2016 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on Aug 11 2016 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Sep 17 2016 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on Sep 23 2016 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Oct 8 2016 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Oct 21 2016 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on June 25 2017 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Sep 20 2018 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on Sep 5 2021 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on Nov 3 2021 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on July 22 2022 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on Sep 5 2022 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on Sep 15 2022 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on May 15 2023 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Oct 18 2023 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on June 19 2023 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey, PA
'Tricolor'
Grayish-green foliage boldly margined creamy-white tinged with pink.
* photos taken on Aug 9 2018 in Ellicott City, MD
Cordyline indivisa ( Mountain Cabbage Tree )
A fast growing, stocky-trunked, small tree, that is native to wet, high mountain areas in New Zealand. Some records include: largest on record - 50 x 20 feet with a trunk diameter of 8 inches; fastest growth rate - 3 feet.
The very large, sword-shaped leaves are up to 7 feet x 8 inches in size. The foliage is often flushed purple.
The creamy-white flowers are borne on branced panicles, up to 5.5 feet in length, during late spring into early summmer.
They are followed by bluish-purple berries.
Hardy zones 8 to 10, it prefers cool moist maritime climates and has reached as much as 25 feet in Ireland.
* historic archive photo
'Rubra'
Deep bronze foliage; otherwise similar to species.
