The simple fact of the matter is that Cordyline australis is hopeless in coastal Queensland. It grows well in Toowoomba and other highland areas but it simply hates the heat and humidity of the coast.

It originates from New Zealand and I know that the 'Southern' garden show compares will tell you that they will grow well in Queensland but the simple fact is that they don't. You may get 1 or 2 or even a few years out of them but eventually they all seem to succombe to our summers.

I don't recommend them for anywhere north of about Coffs Harbour.

Unfortunately many nurseries in Queensland sell thousands of them, either on purpose (knowing fully that they will fail) or by ignorance. My advise is to steer clear of them but if you want to grow them then maybe try them in pots or better still grow some of the tropical Cordyline fruticosa varieties. There are quite a few large landscaping cultivars available that will tolerate full or near full sun conditions.

Don't get me wrong I think that they are lovely plants and I would dearly like to grow them but I don't want to waste my money on something that is 'out of climate'.

Andrew.

We certainly have our Australian natives such as cordyline stricta which I think is great as an accent plant. If you want colour I suggest cordyline fruticosia cultivars such as 'Ethel rose, 'Francis', 'Jaffa', 'Nancy', 'Mistique', 'Kiwi', 'Lazy bones', 'Hawian Sunrise' just to name a few, although this is jst my suggestion

Checkout cordyline.org and come along to the tropical foliage festival this Sunday at Mt Cootha Botanical gardens this Sunday if you want to pick up some cordyline bargins (plus more),

regards,

Scott

I admit that I purchased C Australis with all the naivety of someone who just wanted something 'tropical-looking' for my garden, and the name made it sound like it would handle our summers without problems. I guess we'll find out in February, traditionally a (very) hot and humid month in Rocky.

This is a problem that I have faced continually in choosing 'tropical' plants : I do my homework on the natives which form the majority of my garden, but I tend to lose the plot when it comes to the (predominately exotic) range of tropical plants on offer from local nurseries. I just naturally assume that they will only require shade, mulch and water - what more could a plant ask for ?

Jaffa and Nancy both have 'juno'(fat) leaves. Kiwi has standard leaves. All three are of moderate plant size and won't grow large like Negra or Pink Diamond for example.

Artiew,

All you can do is try them out, you might just have a spot where they will survive but a lot of people have been caught out with them in the past. They do look great and I would dearly love to be able to grow them. I noticed that one of our local nurseries that sells them have had some of their stock collapsing from the heat already.

Andrew.

As for what varieties, there are really too many to mention although I find the pinks / reds colour well.

Scott

The NZ species are hardly relevant to tropical gardens, but the Norfolk Island C. obtecta is a fine plant, if you could ever find a source for it, and it should be climatically adapted to S Qld at least

If anyone is serious about growing Cordyline fruticosa cultivars they just have to get a copy of the NEW CD "Cordylines A - Z". It has been produced by one of Australia's leading Cordyline specialists and contains descriptions, growing conditions and colour photos of over 640 Cordylines.

Andrew.

Andrew.

As the International Cordyline Society is the only specialist Society promoting Cordylines anyone looking for information should email secretary@cordyline.org

Your queries will be answered by one of our many experts on fruticosa and native cordylines.

Reg.