Cordyline Australis hybrids OK for humid southeastern U.S.

[Sandy Loam]

I was just reading an old PalmTalk post in which people were speculating that Cordyline Australis cannot survive in humid areas like parts of Queensland and southern Florida. I have several growing in a colder part of northern Florida and the attached photo (along with the two photos which appear below in separate posts) were all taken in October 2012 in Destin, Florida in the western panhandle (chilly winters). I saw the same Cordyline Australis (in Destin, Florida) about 2 weeks ago and they are now bigger. The Cordyline Australis (New Zealand Cabbage Trees) in the attached pictures are either the variety "red sensation" or "red star". I presume "red star" because they are supposedly more cold-hardy than Red Star. Believe me, Red Star can take any amount of overnight cold that Gainesville, Florida can throw at it. I never cover them. They simply don't need it because they are so tough in the cold.

The only trick to growing them in the humid southeastern USA is to plant them in the shade or somewhere that they can avoid the extreme summer heat combined with humidity. High draining soil of course, is also important. In California, they are everywhere (in multiple varieties unavailable in the southeastern US) and flourish because the humidity isn't so bad. The Purple Cabbage Trees in the photos below (Destin, FL) are in full sun, but because they are so close to the Gulf of Mexico, I suppose they experience less summer humidity.

I have heard from Eric at Leu Gardens, Orlando, that the NZ Cabbage Tree (coloured hybrids, at least) does not survive very well there. I have also never seen any south of Orlando, perhaps because there isn't sufficient night-time cool-down as you move towards the south of Florida. In those regions, you seen dozens of Cordyline Fruticosa the size of trees, but Cordyline Fruticosa doesn't do very well in the north of Florida, coastal Georgia, coastal South Carolina or the areas along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast. Some years they make it through winter unscathed, but other winters we have a cold blast which defoliates them. That would never happen to Cordyline Australis and in those regions we should probably be growing more of these, although they are hard to find in varieties other than "Red Star" around here.

In southern California, I have seen a variety of Cordyline Australis with much shorter, wider leaves than Red Star and it was almost totally purple. Would that have been Cordyline Australis var. 'purpurea' or 'atropurpurea'/'atropurpureum'? It would be great to see some photos of different varieties in Southern California, Australia, New Zealand and other hospitable climates for these plants. Please feel free to add your photos to this post and identify the variety. Thanks!

[Sandy Loam]

Photo #2 of Cordyline Australis in Destin, Florida.

[Sandy Loam]

Photo #3 of Cordyline Australis in Destin, Florida.

[Palm crazy]

Cordylines australis is one of my favorite exotic plants to grow, easy, colourful, exotic looking. They are root hardy to 8a-7b on the west coast. I have many varieties in my garden. This winter a low of 16F kill them to the ground but they will grow back for me come spring/summer. I’d like to see what others are growing also.

[Silas_Sancona]

Great plants in CA, awesome to see these growing here in Fl. The species you have highlighted is one of my personal favs. Rarely bothered by any cold I experienced back in San Jose. Agree that afternoon shade and excellent drainage would be keys to successful cultivation here. Wondering if such treatment would work for Draceana draco.

-Nathan-

[Sandy Loam]

Hi Nathan. I think Dracaena Draco would be too tender for my region, but I am sure that it would do fine in Bradenton if the soil is amended with granular material and elevated for drainage. Hold on --- isn't the Bradenton soil already pretty sandy? I believe there are lots of Dracaena Draco (Dragon Tree) down in South Florida. There are also lots in California. I once read a post somewhere in which someone from Northern California said that their Dragon Tree defoliated after a night of 18 degrees F and then came back again. If a Dragon Tree can tolerate 18 degrees F and come back, maybe I need to be trying one in my region! However, I have never seen a Dragon Tree in Gainesville.

[Silas_Sancona]

I also heard of this species successfully recovering after being exposed to 18F but assume it was larger and more established. I say this only because id had a small 1gal that tanked after being exposed to 26F back in NorCal. I think, if it was larger and had more wood, it would have recovered.

As for the soil, yea, nearly pure sand here but would probably add stuff like Lava rock and/or Pumice (if I could find it, lol) to aide in drainage when planted in the ground. Hoping to try a couple here this summer.

You're right, Gainsville, for this species, would be a stretch. Imagine that the first winter it experiences ice would be a fatal blow. Just my assumption, could be wrong. Would be a great specimen for a large container though. Both Draceanea and larger Cordylines like Australis are used in such a manner back in Cali.. A really stunning sight in front of a gate or entryway.

-Nathan-

[Tropicgardener]

They generally don't do very well at all along the tropical and subtropical Queensland coastline, sometimes they will last a few years but usually will succumb to summer heat and humidity.......Having said that 'Red Sensation' seems to survive (but not really thrive) around Brisbane.......most other cultivars are a failure......In Australia I generally don't recommend them for anywhere north of Coffs Harbour in NSW.