Cordyline australis Peko - Cabbage Tree

Cordyline australis 'Peko' resembles a small multicoloured palm tree, with its long slightly arched leaves tinged with carmine pink at the base and striped with yellow in the centre. It is a small variety, decorative all year round. Over time, it forms a short trunk and blooms in summer, in the form of huge panicles of white and fragrant flowers that remain decorative for a long time. This plant, with a very exotic appearance, is sensitive to heavy frosts and particularly thrives in coastal gardens which are not too dry. Elsewhere, it can be grown in a large pot to adorn the veranda during the winter season.

Cordyline australis is a perennial tree-like plant of the agave family endemic to New Zealand. In nature, this plant reaches a height of 20 m (65 ft 7 in) and forms a robust trunk that branches out into numerous leafy heads that can reach 1 m (3 ft 4 in) in length. The cordyline is found in diverse habitats, such as forest edges, riverbanks, and open areas, particularly near marshes. It prefers sandy or loamy soil, slightly acidic to neutral that always remains moist at depth.

The 'Peko' variety is distinguished by its small size, slow growth, and remarkably colourful foliage. The plant has a rosette-like 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 about 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in), with a spread of 90 cm (35.4 in) to 1 m (3 ft 4 in). Its evergreen leaves are long and narrow, sword-shaped, pointed and slightly arched, measuring 40 to 60 cm (15.7 to 23.6 in) in length and 3 to 7 cm (1.2 to 2.8 in) in width at the base. They have numerous parallel veins and are strongly tinged with pink-red at the base. Flowering occurs in summer on mature plants. Each branch can develop once it has produced a floral stem. The small white-pink, honey-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, highly appreciated by birds. On mature specimens, the pale to dark grey, corky and fissured bark is spongy to the touch. This Peko variety can withstand temperatures ranging from -8°C (17.6 °F) to -10°C.

Resistant to wind and salt spray, Cordyline australis Peko is a good plant for coastal areas. It can be planted in the ground in the centre of a flower bed or in a rockery and performs well in a large pot that can be moved from the terrace to the veranda in winter. In this usage, it is necessary to pay close attention to watering and feeding. These remarkable plants, like banana trees, proteas, cannas, bamboos, giant miscanthus, or castor oil plants, will give a truly exotic aspect to our gardens and terraces.