Cordyline australis Purpurea Group

RHS Plant Profile

cabbage palm Purpurea Group

John Fielding

Synonyms

Cordyline australis 'Purpurea'
Cordyline purple-leaved
Cordyline australis purple-leaved

Trees Shrubs

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An erect, sparsely branched evergreen tree to 6m, bearing purple-bronze, sword-shaped leaves at the branch tips. In summer, mature trees produce a mass of tiny, creamy-white flowers in dense clusters to 1m long. A good container plant when young, and makes an architectural tree when mature

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or 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): H3
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asparagaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Tufted
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 fertile, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Young plants may require winter protection in very cold areas. See cordyline cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by seed, stem cuttings or removing suckers in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Mediterranean climate plants
Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical
Bedding
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

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