Cordyline australis Torbay Dazzler - Cabbage Tree

Cordyline australis 'Torbay Dazzler' is a semi-hardy plant with a very exotic appearance, ideal for a coastal garden. Over time, it forms a kind of small palm tree composed of a trunk, sometimes divided, topped with very long leaves striped with cream and green and gathered in dense tufts. The summer flowering, in the form of long white-cream panicles, is pleasantly fragrant and remains decorative on the plant for a long time. This cordyline will bring a truly unique touch to the garden. It is also a superb plant for a veranda or orangery.

The Cordyline australis is a perennial tree-like plant from the agavaceae family endemic to New Zealand. In nature, this plant reaches a height of 20 m (65 ft 7 in) and forms a robust trunk that branches out into numerous leafy-headed branches that can reach 1 m (3 ft 4 in) in length. The cordyline is found in very diverse habitats, such as forest edges, riverbanks, and open areas, particularly near marshes.

The 'Torbay Dazzler' variety stands out for its smaller size, slow growth, and beautifully variegated foliage. The plant has a rosette-like leafy habit in its juvenile state (for several years), then it forms a small tree with a single trunk and branches adorned with leafy tufts. This variety will reach 2 to 3 m (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in) in height, with a spread of 1 m (3 ft 4 in). Its evergreen leaves are long and narrow, measuring up to 90 cm (35.4 in) in length, sword-shaped, pointed and slightly arched in older specimens. They have numerous parallel veins and are striped with pale yellow and green. The flowering occurs in summer, on mature plants. Each branch can develop once it has produced a flower stem. The small white-cream flowers are honey-scented and delicately perfumed, and borne in large dense panicles measuring from 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) to 1.6 m (5 ft 2 in) in length. The fruit is a round white berry which is highly appreciated by birds. On older plants, the bark of the trunk is pale to dark grey, corky and fissured in appearance and spongy to the touch.

Resistant to wind and salt spray, it is a good plant for coastal areas. Cordyline 'Torbay Dazzler' can be planted in the centre of a flower bed, as a small tree, a windbreak, or a solitary specimen. It particularly appreciates coastal climates and can survive temperatures of -7°C (19.4 °F). Elsewhere, it can be grown in a large pot that can be moved from the terrace to the veranda in winter. In a pot, it is necessary to ensure regular watering and feeding. This remarkable plant, just like banana trees, proteas, cannas, Grevillea, bamboo, giant miscanthus, or castor oil plant, will give a truly exotic aspect to our gardens and terraces.