Cordyline australis Sundance - Cabbage Tree

Cordyline australis Sundance is a large perennial plant with a shrub-like habit, very exotic in appearance but not very hardy, which will be wonderful in a seaside garden. This variety, like all Cordyline plants, resembles a small palm tree, but it stands out with the magnificent colour of its long evergreen leaves which are pale green in the centre, edged with bronze and beautifully streaked with pink to red tones, particularly towards the centre of the rosette. It flowers in summer, with huge panicles of creamy white, fragrant flowers that remain decorative for a long time. They give way to bluish-white berries. It should only be planted in the ground in coastal climates, elsewhere it can be grown in a large pot to adorn the veranda.

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

The 'Sundance' variety distinguishes itself by its smaller size, slow growth, and remarkably colourful foliage. 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 reaches an average height of 4m (13 ft 1 in), with a spread of 2m (6 ft 7 in). Its evergreen leaves are long and narrow, sword-shaped, pointed, slightly arched, and measure 50 to 90cm (19.7 to 35.4 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 coloured. The flowering occurs in summer on mature plants. Each branch can develop once it has produced a flower stem. The small, white-cream to pink, honey-scented flowers are borne on large dense panicles measuring 60 to 100cm (23.6 to 39.4 in) in length. The fruit is a white round berry measuring 5 to 7mm (0.2 to 0.3 in) in diameter which is highly appreciated by birds. On mature plants the pale to dark grey bark is corky in appearance, fissured and spongy to the touch.

Resistant to wind and sea spray, it is a good plant for coastal areas. The Cordyline 'Sundance' can be planted in the centre of a flower bed, in a row, as a windbreak, or as a standalone plant in a mild garden, it particularly appreciates coastal climates. It can withstand temperatures ranging from -5°C (23 °F) to -8°C (17.6 °F), which allows it to be grown elsewhere in a large pot that can be moved from the terrace to the veranda in winter. In pots, it is necessary to ensure proper watering and feeding. This remarkable plant, just like banana trees, proteas and Leucadendron, cannas, bamboo, giant miscanthus, or castor oil plants, will give a truly exotic aspect to our gardens and terraces.