Decorative trio of Cordyline Black Knight, Electric Flash, Peko in one pot

The decorative Cordyline trio pot Black Knight/Electric Flash/Peko is a combination of three False Dracaenas in the same container. This "ready-to-use" composition instantly enhances a terrace, patio, or conservatory, delivering an immediate visual impact. The potted arrangement boasts an exotic architectural style, and the multiple colours of this mix also create a striking visual focal point.

The Cordyline genus was recently reclassified in the Asparagaceae family (the same as asparagus), after being part of the Agavaceae and several other botanical families through successive classifications. There are around fifteen species, mostly from tropical and subtropical regions, but some from New Zealand exhibit better hardiness. This is the case for C. australis and C. banksii, both endemic to this country, and whose horticultural varieties make up this set.

The composition combines three horticultural varieties, each with ornamental appeal. Cordyline australis 'Black Knight' has captivating, glossy, deep purple foliage. Its silhouette is slender, with long leaves gracefully arching downward from the crown. In summer, it produces large, 60 cm to 1 m panicles of small, delicately scented white flowers (1 cm) followed by bluish berries. It grows to around 2 m tall, developing a small trunk over time. Cordyline banksii 'Electric Flash' is a fast-growing Australian horticultural variety that does not form a trunk and remains dense, reaching only 1.50 m in height. Its long leaves blend bronze-purple, creamy yellow, and light olive green. White flower spikes appear between May and July. As for Cordyline australis 'Peko', it adds a touch of green with its beautiful strap-like leaves, whose central vein is lighter, almost yellow, while the leaf surface gradually turns to a carmine pink-red at the base. This compact variety develops a short trunk over the years, along with a stunning flowering display of large panicles of small white flowers between July and September. The branch may turn woody once it has produced a flowering stem.

This trio of Cordylines will work well on a terrace during the warmer months. Pair them with other themed plants to create an exotic scene. Phoenix roebelinii, or Pygmy Date Palm, is a stunning dwarf palm that can be grown in containers. Its finely divided foliage, carried in a crown by a slender trunk, is particularly ornamental year-round. Also consider Agapanthus, which forms splendid flowering pot displays, especially moderate-growing varieties like the early-flowering 'Ever Sapphire', with its vibrant blue blooms. And if you have a shady corner to fill, it will be perfect for an Alocasia, a plant with oversized, tropical-style leaves.