Cordyline
The palm-like tree of seaside towns: reliable in mild gardens, borderline in cold ones — tie the crown up in hard winters.
Care
Full sun to part shade.
Low-medium — drought-tolerant once established; water pots regularly in summer.
Well-drained soil.
Pull off dead lower leaves. A frost-killed or leggy trunk can be cut back to a lower point; it usually resprouts.
A balanced feed monthly in pots in summer.
Rooted suckers from the base in spring.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- AprilPull away dead lower leaves and cut out any frost-damaged growth.
- NovemberIn cold areas tie the leaves up over the crown and wrap young plants with fleece. how ›
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilPull away dead lower leaves and cut out any frost-damaged growth.
- NovemberIn cold areas tie the leaves up over the crown and wrap young plants with fleece. how ›
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchPull away dead lower leaves and cut out any frost-damaged growth.
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchPull away dead lower leaves and cut out any frost-damaged growth.
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Central leaves pull out easily and the crown smells of rot.
What to do. Cut the trunk back below the damage; it often resprouts.
How to spot it. Dry tips in pots.
What to do. Irregular watering.
Questions
Cordyline: is it hardy?
H3: Half hardy. It survives down to −5 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Yes — young plants are common patio pot plants.
Cordyline: when do you prune it?
Pull off dead lower leaves. In the calendar for UK, pruning falls in April.
Cordyline: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in June–July.
When do you feed it?
A balanced feed monthly in pots in summer. Feeding months, UK: May–August.