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Our iconic native Cabbage Tree has a tropical and exotic air which has ensured its continued popularity in modern landscape design. If you have ever travelled to Europe or the UK you will be aware that gardeners there just can';t get enough of our Cordylines and they are literally "as common as muck" though that does not mean they should be under-rated in any way. The long strapy pointed foliage comes in shades of rich green right through to deep purple with a few "variegations" along the way. The sweetly scented flowers are always cream and produced in drooping panicles from about November to December.  

The common name of Cabbage Tree came about because the tender young shoots from the heart of the tree were used by NZ';s early settlers as a food source. Can';t say I';ll be trying them anytime soon as I have a hard enough job with plain everyday Cabbage. Maori also valued the stems and roots of Cordyline kirkii Te Tawhiti as a source of sugar or sweetener. So you can see that Cabbage trees though considered very "today" have played an important role in our early history.

 

As a garden plant they make excellent specimens but add more drama when planted in groups of 3 or more. They are also ideal for container planting. Cordylines are very tolerant of just about any position in the garden, wet or dry, windy or sunny. They regenerate easily if the stem is cut to either reduce height or tidy the plant and are unbelievably forgiving of even the most neglectful gardener.

The falling leaves can be a nuisance - don't be tempted to mow them up - you and your mower will soon regret it. The way to get around this problem is to groom your Cordylines regularly, they will look all the better for it. There is one problem with Cordylines however and it';s the grub or caterpillar produced by a native moth. This little pest loves to munch on the foliage and can make a plant look tatty quite quickly. Regularly check in the centre of your plants and either squash the offender with your fingers or spray with an organic insecticide. If you prefer something systemic chemical sprays can also be used with care.

So if you're looking for something sweet and nutritious that will add form and function to your garden then our native Cabbage tree is definitely the plant for you. Bon apetit!

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