Corner Cordyline

Cordyline Silhouette

The Cabbage Tree (Cordyline) in the Jelly Bean Border was one of my first shrubby plantings. Now it towers above the hostas and ligularias in the shady Jelly Bean Border corner. It's an iconic New Zealand tree.

Winter Silhouette

This photograph of the big Cordyline in the Jelly Bean Garden was taken on a winter's day in 2004. Don't let the blue sky fool you - it wasn't all that warm!

That jagged spiky silhouette is a well-known New Zealand symbol, and is used a lot in graphic design and art.

A Many Trunked Tree

This particular Cabbage tree has only has two trunks. There are beautiful many-trunked Cabbage trees to be seen on the back-roads near my garden - they look particularly good in silhouette against the sky.

A Long Time Ago...

I can remember first planting this Cabbage Tree, back in 1996. The Jelly Bean Garden was half-dug, and all the plants I put in it were knee-high. My good gardening friend Astrid had given me two seedling Cordylines, and in went one of them, positioned to mark the furthest corner of the Jelly Bean garden border.

I had little idea how big Cabbage trees would grow in my garden - or how quickly! It's been quite a surprise.

eight year old Cabbage Tree

Even though Cordylines are messy and drop old leaves everywhere I love them. Not all New Zealand gardeners agree with me, though!

three year old Cabbage tree

Cabbage trees can be kept tidy by peeling the old straps off their trunks, and I do this from time to time. However their old leaves are their protection against disease.

The Cordyline shares airspace in the Jelly Bean Border with a Tulip Tree and two large Elms. Viburnum Tinus shrubs form a lower understory, helping to shelter the nor-west wind. All iconic (and non-iconic) New Zealand gardeners should grow at least one iconic Cabbage tree.