Cordyline australis Pink Champagne - Cabbage Tree

Cordyline australis 'Pink Champagne' is a compact and vibrant variety distinguished by its grey-green foliage edged with cream white and tinged with pink at the base. It forms a small erect bush that develops a cluster of evergreen leaves carried by a short trunk called a stipe, giving it the appearance of a miniature palm tree or yucca. Not very hardy, it is a plant with an exotic look that is better suited to milder, warm climates and coastal gardens. From June to August, it produces large panicles of tiny cream-white flowers that are very decorative. Grow it in sunlight in well-drained and not too dry soil, to frame a terrace or in a pot to decorate a veranda or balcony.

Cordyline australis is a perennial tree-like plant from the agave family endemic to New Zealand. In nature, this plant reaches a height of 20 m (65 ft 7 in) and forms a sturdy trunk that branches out into numerous leafy-headed branches 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.

The 'Pink Champagne' variety stands out with its small size, slow growth, and grey-green foliage variegated with cream white and tinged with pink at the base. 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 vigorous variety will reach 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 curved, and measure 50 to 90 cm in length and 3 to 7 cm in width at the base. They have numerous parallel veins and are richly coloured. Flowering occurs in summer on mature plants. Each branch can develop once it has produced a flower stem. The small cream-white to pink, honey-scented flowers are carried in large, dense panicles measuring 60 to 100 cm in length. The fruit is a white rounded berry measuring 5 to 7 mm (0.3 in) in diameter and highly appreciated by birds. On mature plants, the trunk bark is pale to dark grey, corky in appearance, and fissured, with a spongy texture.

Resistant to wind and salt spray, it is a good plant for coastal areas. The 'Pink Champagne' Cordyline can be planted in the centre of a flower bed, as an avenue tree, as a windbreak, or as a standalone plant in a warm garden, as it particularly thrives in coastal climates. It can withstand temperatures ranging from -5°C (23 °F) to -8°C (17.6 °F), making it suitable for cultivation elsewhere in a large pot that can be moved from the terrace to the veranda in winter. When grown in pots, it is necessary to pay particular attention to watering and feeding. This remarkable plant, along with banana trees, proteas, Leucadendron, cannas, bamboos, giant miscanthus, or castor oil plants, will bring a truly exotic touch to our gardens and terraces.