Mountain Cabbage Tree Cordyline indivisa
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cordyline hookeri
- Dracaena indivisa
- Phonetic Spelling
- kor-di-LY-nee in-di-VY-sah
- Description
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Mountain cabbage tree is a monocot tree in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae) native to New Zealand. It prefers growing in the mountains of New Zealand in high rainfall, cool temperatures, and misty conditions. It can grow up to 18-26 feet tall with a single trunk of 1.5-2.5 feet in diameter. As a potted plant, it will grow only 4-6 feet tall. As the plant matures it will drop the lower leaves leaving the trunk exposed similar to a palm.
The Genus name Cordyline is from the Greek kordyle meaning ‘club’. The species name refers to the single trunk.
The strap-shaped leaves are 3 to 6 feet long and 2-8 inches wide with colorful red or yellow veins. The flowers occur in drooping clusters in spring to early summer and appear under the leaves, unlike others in the genus. Flowers are followed by a fleshy purple/black fruit. It rarely blooms in a pot.
This plant can be difficult to establish and it is best to start with a young plant. They are sold as a rosette of leaves on a short stem. It prefers cool moist fertile soil in full sun to part shade and is not a fan of hot humid weather. If growing outdoors in the summer provide the plant with part shade and keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. In the winter bring indoors or into a greenhouse and reduce the water.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. In hot dry weather, the tree tends to collapse.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cordyline
- Species:
- indivisa
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- New Zealand
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract pollinators, birds eat the fruit
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- Fleshy fruit matures bluish to purple-black
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Large dropping clusters of small yellow to whitish to mauve flowers appear in spring to summer. They have three petals and are fragrant. The cluster arises from under the base of the foliage. Rarely flowers in a pot
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Large green strap-shaped leaves have red and yellow veins on the leaves that are distinctive to this species. They are clasping, hairless, leathery and have entire margins. They are 3-6 feet long and 2-8 inches wide. Leaves droop with age.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Bark Description:
- The single trunck is rough and brownish
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
