Practical
Plants

Cordyline australis

Cabbage Tree

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Agavaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
15 m
Spread
5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

Root - baked[2][5][8][9]. It can also be brewed into an intoxicating drink[10]. Pith of the trunk - dried and steamed until soft[8]. Sweet and starchy, it is used to make porridge or a sweet drink[8]. The root and stems are rich in fructose, the yields compare favourably with sugar beet (Beta vulgaris altissima)[5]. Edible shoots - a cabbage substitute[2][4][8]. The leaves are very fibrous even when young, we would not fancy eating them[K].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root
Plant part
Stem
Product or use
Sweetener

Material uses

The leaves contain saponins, but not in commercial quantities[5]. The leaves contain a strong fibre, used for making paper, twine, cloth, baskets, thatching, rain capes etc[1][17][20][4][5]. The whole leaves would be used for some of these applications. When used for making paper, the leaves are harvested in summer, they are scraped to remove the outer skin and are then soaked in water for 24 hours prior to cooking[12].

Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Paper

Environment

Range
New Zealand.
Habitat
Forest margins and open places. Abundant near swamps. North, South and Stewart Islands[16].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for about 10 minutes in warm water and sow in late winter to early spring in a warm greenhouse[21][6]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 25°c[6]. There is usually a good percentage germination[21]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts and give the plants some protection in their first winter outdoors[K]. Stem cuttings - cut off the main stem just below the head and then saw off 5cm thick blocks of stem and place them 3cm deep in pure peat in a heated frame. Keep them moist until they are rooting well, then pot them up into individual pots. Plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Suckers. These are best removed in early spring and planted out in situ. Protect the division from wind and cold weather and do not allow the soil to become dry until the plant is established. Divisions can also be potted up and grown on until established, planting them out in the summer.

Cultivation

Prefers a good sandy loam rich in humus[1]. Succeeds in full sun or light shade[11]. A very wind hardy plant, tolerating maritime exposure[18][7]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is not very cold-hardy, tolerating short-lived lows down to about -10°c[15]. It only succeeds outdoors in the milder areas of Britain[1][3][19]. It grows very well in Cornwall where it often self-sows[1][3][19]. A form with purplish leaves is hardier than the type and succeeds outdoors in Gloucestershire[3]. The flowers have a delicious sweet scent that pervades the air to a considerable distance[14]. Mice often kill young plants by eating out the pith of the stem[3].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Laing. and Blackwell. Plants of New Zealand. Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd 1907-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Brooker. S. G., Cambie. R. C. and Cooper. R. C. Economic Native Plants of New Zealand. Oxford University Press 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-19-558229-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  7. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩

  8. Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  10. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  11. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  12. Bell. L. A. Plant Fibres for Papermaking. Liliaceae Press 1988-00-00

    ↩

  13. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

  14. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  15. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩

  16. Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. 1961-00-00

    ↩

  17. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  18. Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.

    ↩

  19. Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.

    ↩1↩2

  20. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  21. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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