Cordyline fruticosa 'Amabilis'

RHS Plant Profile
cabbage palm 'Amabilis'

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Houseplants

An erect, suckering shrub to 1.2m tall, with broadly strap-shaped, glossy, bronze and red leaves, with flecks of white and pink when mature. Makes a good foliage houseplant

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H1B

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Asparagaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Cordyline are palm-like evergreen shrubs or tree-like perennials, with rosettes or tufts of linear or anrrowly lance-shaped, leathery leaves, and terminal panicles of fragrant, cup-shaped flowers followed by small. spherical berries
Name Status
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in pots of peat-free multipurpose compost in bright filtered light. Water moderately while in growth and apply a balanced liquid feed monthly; water sparingly in winter. Mist daily to increase humidity and occasionally wipe dust from the leaves with a soft cloth. Top dress annually and pot on every 2-3 years in spring. See cordyline cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by cuttings (with the top leaves attached), or stem section cuttings (taking care to keep the sections the right way up)

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Houseplants
  • Sub-tropical
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and scale insects

Diseases

May be susceptible to cordyline slime flux and honey fungus (rarely)