Cordyline australis Cherry Sensation - Cabbage Tree

The  Cordyline australis 'Cherry Sensation' is a unique variety with its pink to cherry red foliage, striped with an almost bronze olive green. This small perennial shrub strongly resembles a small palm tree as it bears a short stem and an eye-catching rosette of long, evergreen leaves that are initially upright and then arching, providing colour to the garden all year round. Its exotic appearance is well-suited to coastal and Mediterranean regions, as long as it can enjoy light and well-drained, preferably rich and not too dry soil in summer. Not very hardy, it should be grown in a pot and protected during winter in cold regions.

The Cordyline australis is a perennial arborescent plant from the agave family endemic to New Zealand. In nature, this plant can reach a height of 20 m (65 ft 7 in) and forms a robust trunk that branches out into numerous leafy branches that can reach 1 m (3 ft 4 in) in length. The cordyline can be found in diverse habitats such as forest borders, riverbanks, and open areas, particularly near marshes.

The 'Cherry Sensation' variety is a close relative of the 'Sunrise' Cordyline, distinguished by its smaller size, slower growth, and original foliage, pink to cherry red striped with a darker olive green to bronze hue. The plant forms a leafy rosette when young (for several years), then develops into a small tree with a single trunk and branches adorned with leafy tufts. This variety reaches an average height of 2 m, with a spread of 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in). Its evergreen leaves are long and narrow, sword-shaped, pointed, slightly arching, and can measure up to 2m (6 ft 7 in) in length and 3 to 7cm (1.2 to 2.8 in) in width at the base. They have numerous parallel veins and are richly colored. Flowering occurs in May-June, on mature plants. Each branch can branch out once it has produced a flower stalk. The small cream-white to pink, nectar-rich, delicately scented flowers are borne on large, dense panicles measuring 60 to 100 cm in length. The fruit is a white, round berry measuring 5 to 7 mm (0.2 to 0.3 in) in diameter, much appreciated by birds. On mature plants, the bark of the trunk is pale to dark grey, corky in appearance, and fissured, with a spongy texture when touched.

Resistant to wind and salt spray, it is a good plant for coastal areas. The Cordyline 'Cherry Sensation' can be planted in the centre of a border, in a line, as a windbreak, or as a solitary specimen in a temperate garden, as it particularly enjoys Atlantic and Mediterranean climates. It can withstand temperatures ranging from -3°C (26.6 °F) to -6°C (21.2 °F), allowing it to be grown in a large pot that can be moved from the terrace to under frost-proof glass in winter in regions with cold winters. In pots, it is necessary to ensure proper watering and fertilisation. This remarkable plant, along with banana trees, proteas and Leucadendron, cannas, bamboo, giant miscanthus, and castor oil plants, will give gardens and terraces a truly exotic appearance.