Cordyline australis Emerald Star

Cordyline australis Emerald Star, known by its cultivar name 'Broadsword', is part of the Artic Jungle series. It is a variety that resembles the species, with broader, shinier foliage, in a beautiful, fresh and vibrant, emerald green, and a much more modest growth. This large, shrub-like perennial plant resembles a small palm tree or a yucca. It occasionally blooms in summer, with large panicles of fragrant white-pink flowers that remain decorative for a long time. Although it has a very exotic appearance, it is quite hardy, down to -8°C in well-drained soil.

Cordyline australis is an tree-like perennial plant from the agavaceae family, endemic to New Zealand. In nature, this plant reaches a height of 20m and forms a robust trunk that branches out into numerous leafy heads that can reach 1m long. The cordyline is found in diverse habitats such as forest edges, riverbanks, and open areas, particularly near marshes.

The Emerald Star variety has a smaller size, slow growth, and foliage with a fresher and more vibrant shade. The plant has a rosette-like leafy habit in its juvenile state (for several years), then it forms a small tree with a single trunk and branches adorned with leafy tufts. This variety reaches a height of 1.50m, with a spread of 1m at maturity, but can eventually grow up to 3m tall. Its evergreen leaves are long and narrow, sword-shaped, pointed and slightly arched, measuring 30 to 60 cm long and 3 to 7 cm wide at the base. Flowering occurs in summer on mature plants. Each stem can branch out once it has produced a flower. The small white-pink, nectar-tich and delicately scented flowers are borne on large dense panicles measuring 60 to 100 cm long. The fruit is a white round berry measuring 5 to 7 mm in diameter, loved by birds. On mature plants, the trunk bark is pale grey to dark grey, cork-like and fissured, and spongy to the touch.

The Emerald Star Cordyline requires a warm location, in full sun, sheltered from cold north winds, in well-drained soil. It is resistant to warmer winds and sea spray and is well-suited for coastal areas. It particularly thrives in Atlantic and Mediterranean climates. Plant it in the centre of a bed, as a small specimen tree, or as a standalone plant. You can also grow it in a container to protect it in winter in a conservatory. In a container, ensure proper watering and feeding. It brings an exotic look to the terrace or garden, and its architectural silhouette pairs well with Royal Protea and Dasylirion glaucophyllum to enhance the exoticism, or with Pseudopanax Ferox, bamboos, and giant miscanthus in a garden with modern lines.