New hardy cordylines in z8

[Palm crazy]

Here are a few cordylines in the garden, easy to grow and look great all year.

Will show their progress later this summer.

Roger

Pink passion

Edited June 11, 2010 by Palm crazy

[Xenon]

How hardy?

Jonathan

[Palm crazy]

How hardy?

Jonathan

Jonathan they are hardy to 15F -20F However, 'Paradise' and other hybrids only hardy to 9b-10a depending on how cold and rainy you are in winter.

You should be able to grow Cordyline red star or C. red sensation and with your hot summers I would give them afternoon shade.

Edited June 11, 2010 by Palm crazy

[metalfan]

Red Star tanked here in zone 8B at 28F. I don't exactly call that hardy in zone 8.

[Palm crazy]

  On 6/11/2010 at 9:27 PM, metalfan said:

Red Star tanked here in zone 8B at 28F. I don't exactly call that hardy in zone 8.

Interesting, here red star is root hardy to 18f-22f and red sensation is much less hardy, will yellow out even if we have a 9b winter.

roger

Edited June 11, 2010 by Palm crazy

[Xenon]

That's doesn't look like Washington at all! That's some nice looking Trachycarpus.

JOnathan

[Palm crazy]

  On 6/11/2010 at 9:27 PM, metalfan said:

Red Star tanked here in zone 8B at 28F. I don't exactly call that hardy in zone 8.

Sounds like the one you had wasn't harden off before the cold spell.

I'll post a few other variety tomorrow but in the mean time here is a picture of the back area. Where most of these are located.

Garden is still recovering from winters cold spell.

Xenon I get that same reaction a lot. LOL!

Cordyline torbay dazzler next to small phormium evening glow.

Edited June 13, 2010 by Palm crazy

[Palm crazy]

A few more cordylines I am trying in the garden.

Cordyline Renegade is dark has more upright leaves and is a non trunking form and suckers.

Cordyline 'Paradise" is one cool looking cordyline with heavy orange overtones.

My all time favorite Cordyline indivisa is of the most hardy too. The leaves get really big and one of the few that like part shade, a real show stopper when adult.

Thanks for looking and will up date later in the summer.

Roger

[Palm crazy]

This cordyline has been blooming for about a month already.

Cordyline 'red sensation'.

Same plant when the sun is not beating down on it. Plant to the right is Leucadendron 'Jester' my favorite one.

Edited July 6, 2010 by Palm crazy

[JASON M]

Are they evergreens? That would be cool to plant something like that out here.

[Palm crazy]

  On 7/24/2010 at 11:08 PM, JASON M said:

Are they evergreens? That would be cool to plant something like that out here.

Yes! They are evergreen, you could easily grow them where you are as house plants in winter Jason.

You should be able to get them as mail order plants I think or locally as annuals.

If not let me know.

[Zeeth]

Will any of them form stem eventually?

My favorite variety that I have is called 'kiwi', but I doubt it's hardy for you

I think a mix of bromeliads, crotons, cordylines, plumera and palms makes the most lovely tropical statement in a garden.

[Palm crazy]

  On 7/26/2010 at 12:01 PM, Zeeth said:

Will any of them form stem eventually?

My favorite variety that I have is called 'kiwi', but I doubt it's hardy for you

I think a mix of bromeliads, crotons, cordylines, plumera and palms makes the most lovely tropical statement in a garden.

Hi Zeeth, all the Cordyline fruticosa are not winter hardy here, I've never tried one indoor. But most of the ones I grow do grow trunks and the more colorful ones are slower to do that here, by the end of next summer you'll be able to see what ones are faster growing. I did have some green cordylines that had 8' of trunks but last December cold spell killed them to the ground, but they will be even more fuller as they regrow back fast, have already grown about 2' tall this year but will take a few more years to get any noticeable trunks.

Crotons are one of my favorite plants, and I usually grow at least one as annual, but not this year. The leave alway die on me if I bring them inside for winter. Your plant combination would be stunning together in part shade or sun.

Edited July 26, 2010 by Palm crazy

[Patrick]

What's the one in the center in picture # 3? The one that's green on the outside of the leaves and then gets bright red as you get closer to the base?

That one's a LOOKER!

Thank you for posting this. I've been meaning to look into Cordylines as a filler in my garden. Too bad most of my local nurseries just carry the common red or green varieties. Thanks again!

[Palm crazy]

  On 7/26/2010 at 7:23 PM, Patrick said:

What's the one in the center in picture # 3? The one that's green on the outside of the leaves and then gets bright red as you get closer to the base?

That one's a LOOKER!

Thank you for posting this. I've been meaning to look into Cordylines as a filler in my garden. Too bad most of my local nurseries just carry the common red or green varieties. Thanks again!

Patrick that one is called Cordyline australis 'sundance'. Very easy to find and will have even brighter color for you in winter and spring. Some times there really red and sometime more orangey. Grow pretty fast and will get about 10'-20' tall. Check out the link.

http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=%20435

[Palm crazy]

Hey hardy cordyline lovers. After last month cold spell I decided to treat myself to a present with these two nice looking cordylines at the local nursery.

These two beauties were the last two they had so I had to have them. The weed that came with them are free.

To cold to plant right now but come March or April they'll both go into the ground somewhere in the garden.

One on left is Cordyline 'pinkstripe' and the ever popular Cordyline 'torbay dazzler' on the right.

Early Christmas present to me....HO! HO! HO!

Edited December 3, 2010 by Palm crazy

[_Rich]

Great thread and thanks for sharing

I'm definitely going to have to look into adding more to my landscape.'

Great stuff

~Rich

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Great color! Are these all cultivars of C. australis? I have seen these for sale here at the Big Box store in one gallons. They had a huge block of them that almost looked like a bed of colorful Liriope. Do you grow them as a groundcover or low shrub and cut them back every year?

[Palm crazy]

  On 12/5/2010 at 2:51 AM, Jerry@TreeZoo said:

Great color! Are these all cultivars of C. australis? I have seen these for sale here at the Big Box store in one gallons. They had a huge block of them that almost looked like a bed of colorful Liriope. Do you grow them as a groundcover or low shrub and cut them back every year?

Hi Jerry

Yes, these are C. australis cultivars and hybrids. Some are quite heat tolerant, drought tough, but look much better watered when really hot and dry. The more colorful ones make great ground covers and cutting back makes them much fuller. Large leaf ones look better with a trunk.

I like to use them as accent plants and punches of color in the garden. Hardy to z9-11, most are Root hardy to z8b. Makes a great container plant. Half of mine are new this year, or regrew from last years December super cold spell, that's why they're still small.

You should try some and I would think now would be a great time of the year for planting in your area.

Edited December 5, 2010 by Palm crazy

[nomolos]

Roger - Great Cordylines, yes Indivisia is superb. Have you considered any of the colourful flaxes?

[Palm crazy]

  On 12/14/2010 at 8:55 AM, nomolos said:

Roger - Great Cordylines, yes Indivisia is superb. Have you considered any of the colourful flaxes?

Hi Nomolo, one of these days we should start a subject on just NZ plants in peoples gardens.

Yes, they are very popular here in all types of garden styles and they are used by the city also, I love new zealand native plants, have quite a few in the garden.

New Zealand Flax - here's one I like to get called, 'Pizzaz' is the only one that I know of with big orange stripes in the leaves.

My garden taken two years ago. Love the stain glass look you get when the sunlights behind them and they look great with cordylines.

Yellow upright!

Edited December 16, 2010 by Palm crazy

[Palm crazy]

Couple updates on the hardy cordylines in the garden.

Starting to trunk.

Yes, this is a cordyline.

[Tropicgardener]

I just love the colourful New Zealand Cordyline australis cultivars but they don't love the heat and humidity we have here.........they just drop dead in summer

[Takil-Explorer]

Well tried some Cordyline australis here, from the coldest provenance. But the winters here did kill them anyway! Bloody Dutch climate!

Alexander

[Takil-Explorer]

Well tried some Cordyline australis here, from the coldest provenance. But the winters here did kill them anyway! Bloody Dutch climate!

Alexander

[WestCoastGal]

Palm Crazy, let us know how your cordylines do after all the snow melts up there (saw your other post about the weather today). Nice looking garden BTW.

[Palm crazy]

  On 1/18/2012 at 7:18 PM, WestCoastGal said:

Palm Crazy, let us know how your cordylines do after all the snow melts up there (saw your other post about the weather today). Nice looking garden BTW.

Here's an update on the Cordylines. I think I have around 30 in the ground, but heres two of them, they all look pretty much the same as these do.

These photos were taken the day before the big snow storm hit.

Edited January 27, 2012 by Palm crazy

[Palm crazy]

Here they are today, one week later.

This one is in the open so it got flatten, but will regrow a new full crown in spring.

Underneath the palm leaves this clump looks better.

Roger.

[MattyB]

those look like they did great!

[Sandy Loam]

  On 6/11/2010 at 9:25 PM, Palm crazy said:

How hardy?

Jonathan

Jonathan they are hardy to 15F -20F However, 'Paradise' and other hybrids only hardy to 9b-10a depending on how cold and rainy you are in winter.

You should be able to grow Cordyline red star or C. red sensation and with your hot summers I would give them afternoon shade.

If Jonathan is in Houston, his climate is similar to mine. I find that Cordyline Australis "red star" is more tolerant of full sun than cordyline australis "red sensation", yet both become sun-scorched if they don't have a bit of shade. They don't like too much shade, but they also don't like full sun in our region. Having said this, below are photos of cordyline australis in Destin, Florida looking healthy in full sun. These photos were taken in 2012 and I saw them again in 2015 and they still looked healthy....and bigger.

[Sandy Loam]

...and while I'm at it, I thought I would take the opportunity to point out that not only is "red star" more tolerant of our strong sun in the southeast, but it has a different shape from "red sensation". The "red star" leaves seem to fan out with a graceful drooping look all over the crown whereas the "red sensation" leaves seem to grow quite upright and only drop at the bottom. To illustrate, here are some photos below. The first photo is of "red sensation". The second and third photos are of "red star". Nobody seems to be aware of these structural differences. People only comment on the differences in colour - .e.g. "red star" is a dark red whereas "red sensation" is almost purple.

Photos all taken in Gainesville, Florida.

Edited July 17, 2015 by Sandy Loam

[Sandy Loam]

,,,but, apart from "red star" and "red sensation", I do not know if any of these other cold-hardy cordyline australis hybrids would grow well in the humid southern United States, or any other hot and humid climate. I have read that they generally tend to melt in our heat and humidity. They may be great for Seattle or New Zealand or Tazmania or the Cote d'Azur, but not for Florida if I am not mistaken. One other exception is Cordyline "Festival Grass" which supposedly will tolerate a hot and humid climate with plenty of sun, and is also quite cold-hardy too. If anyone knows of other varieties that tolerate a lot of heat and humidity (and sun), please don't hesitate to comment.

Edited July 17, 2015 by Sandy Loam

[Palm crazy]

  On 7/17/2015 at 3:39 PM, Sandy Loam said:

,,,but, apart from "red star" and "red sensation", I do not know if any of these other cold-hardy cordyline australis hybrids would grow well in the humid southern United States, or any other hot and humid climate. I have read that they generally tend to melt in our heat and humidity. They may be great for Seattle or New Zealand or Tazmania or the Cote d'Azur, but not for Florida if I am not mistaken. One other exception is Cordyline "Festival Grass" which supposedly will tolerate a hot and humid climate with plenty of sun, and is also quite cold-hardy too. If anyone knows of other varieties that tolerate a lot of heat and humidity (and sun), please don't hesitate to comment.

I think the ones you mention are the best for your climate. There are a few other varieties that have some tropical parent in them. If you can find a website that gives the hybrids parent origin then you could pick the ones with the most tropical strains in them.

The ones I grow are root hardy to 8a (most are) but only evergreen 9a-9b.

You might want to look at argo starts and see what they are growing, or here’s a good list with the best information on hardy Cordylines, from San Marcos Growers. http://www.smgrowers.com/info/cordyline.asp

Here some thing I’ve been meaning to share when taking picture of cordyline.

Try to get the best angle that show off the colourful foliage, cause that is what really screams tropical.

These where taken 4th of July, 2015. Cordyline 'cherry sensation’. Viewing head-on not very exciting to look at.

Same cordyline from the side really shows the sun working it’s magic.

Heres two cordylines that had their center died back at 21F last winter. There making a nice recovery.

If anyone has any pics they like to share or comments please do.

[Sandy Loam]

Nice hybrids, PalmCrazy. Amazing colour!

I am surprised to hear that these are "root hardy" and suffer any winter die-back in your region. I thought that they would stay looking great all winter in that cool and temperate coastal climate.

Here in northern Florida, cordyline australis looks great all winter. It does not die back at all, at least in the four years that I have been growing them. Even if we have a zone 8b winter one year, I don't think they would be damaged. They seem to be quite tough and I would have assumed that these other hybrids are equally cold-hardy.

On the other hand, cordyline fruticosa is not guaranteed to look good all winter here in zone 9a. It depends on the year. Two hours south of here, they look great all winter and grow into trees, but not this far north.

[Palm crazy]

  On 7/18/2015 at 2:59 AM, Sandy Loam said:

Nice hybrids, PalmCrazy. Amazing colour!

I am surprised to hear that these are "root hardy" and suffer any winter die-back in your region. I thought that they would stay looking great all winter in that cool and temperate coastal climate.

Here in northern Florida, cordyline australis looks great all winter. It does not die back at all, at least in the four years that I have been growing them. Even if we have a zone 8b winter one year, I don't think they would be damaged. They seem to be quite tough and I would have assumed that these other hybrids are equally cold-hardy.

On the other hand, cordyline fruticosa is not guaranteed to look good all winter here in zone 9a. It depends on the year. Two hours south of here, they look great all winter and grow into trees, but not this far north.

Are winter are crazy, one year can be 9b then the next 8a or 8b.

I'm actually in 8a, but true 8b gardens here have nice big cordyline australis. The colorful ones are not as evergreen hardy here.

The tallest mine ever get are 8' of clear trunk and then Bam! a cold winter comes around and knocks then down. But they regrow back in the spring, and the cycle starts all over again, etc. Only on the coast do you see old fat tall ones. I'm 70 miles inland, but due west of me on the coast is 9a.

[Sandy Loam]

It's official. Don't plant any cordyline australis except for "red star" in the ultra-humid and rainy southeastern United States. I just had another cordyline australis "red sensation" die on me, likely due to too much rain and pounding direct sun. The SOUTHERN LIVING plant collection seems to have added cordyline australis "red sensation" to their collection, but this may be a mistake for the southeast (which Southern Living targets). "Red Star" has tolerated many heavy rains for me, and can almost handle full sun. The humidity has not killed any of them.

I am in northern Florida and I would not try cordyline australis anywhere south of here in Florida. I understand that they will just die in Orlando due to the heat. However, in Orlando, there are so many wonderful types of cordylines growing everywhere that no one would want cordyline australis anyway. I see giant, tree-size Corydline Fruticosa there on almost every street corner.

[Matthew92]

I need to upload a picture of it, but at my grandparents house, there are some green leaved C. australis (I assume) that have stayed outdoors in pots all year. They are doing great having survived temps as low as the high teens and brutal heat and humidity in the summer and now have several inches of trunk. The leaves on them also are more thin and grasslike. Will get a picture when I go back there.

[Palm crazy]

Opal92 please do post some pics, I’ll also try and get some pictures (updates) on my cordyline as soon as it stops raining enough to go outside.  Are highs are only in the 50’s now that its almost November. Chilly but still mild. 

[Palm crazy]

Here’s a few cordyline australis and hybrids updates. 

Green cordyline Australis is evergreen hardy to 8b/9a, but root hardy to 8a here. 

Three year old plant, but the root stock is over 10 years old. 

 

These few died back last winter at 21F. 

Some Cordyline ‘red star’ two years old. 

Cordyline ‘ cha cha’ dwarf variety with cordyline ‘red cherry sensation’. 

Cordyline ‘torbay dazzler’ 

Forgot the name of this one but it really special so I dug it up and will keep it as a container plant. Has a orange copper leaves with a white sheen to it. Next year it will look really cool. 

Unknown hybrid, that did not turn out the way it was suppose to, reverted back to brown and green. 

And last but not lest, this cordyline died two years ago and it finally grew back this summer.

Hopefully these pics will prove that they are worth trying in colder areas, but if your too cold you can always grow agaves that look like cordylines too. 

[Palm crazy]

Correction, that should be yucca are lookalike cordylines substitute for colder climates. 

Edited November 4, 2015 by Palm crazy