DON’S superb foliage plants autumn TV Don Burke says the latest generation of New Zealand cordylines SPECIAL will become some of our most popular plants because they bring fabulous year-round colour to gardens in almost all climate zones.

new wave ‘Red Fountain’ ‘Kirkii’ ‘Electric Pink’ ‘Torbay Dazzler’ nz cordylines he recently released Low clumpers New Zealand CLUMPING TYPES T cordylines (Cordyline ‘Red Fountain’: long, thin, australis) are amongst the best arching burgundy-coloured leaves The clumping varieties from sprinklers. Since and most useful evergreen are the feature of this variety. It have multiple stems or this group stays low, garden plants ever released. grows 80cm to 1m tall, spreading growth points, creating they are in many ways They provide superb foliage a little over 1m wide. Multiple a shrub-like growth the most useful of all colours 365 days of the year, short stems emerge from the habit. Most are hybrids NZ cordylines. The best and they’ll do it in almost all base, producing a deep red, grassy with other species of of the group in our areas of Australia. They are look. Excellent in pots (38-45cm cordylines (usually C. opinion is ‘Red Fountain’. ‘Coffee and Cream’ ‘Red Sensation’ ‘Peko’ ‘Red Star’ one of the most popular plants diameter) or in the ground. banksii) and they may It has an excellent deep being sold in nurseries now. ‘Kirkii’: this one has broad, get crown rot if exposed red foliage colour, arch- In the past, these sorts of shorter leaves, multiple trunks to regular overhead ing leaves and is said strong leaf colours were mostly watering – especially to grow only 80cm tall. and grows to around 1m tall. confined to plants from the It has dense, dark green foliage tropics and subtropics, but which is not as weepy as other now you can create tropical types. It’s maybe best suited as effects even in cooler areas SINGLE-TRUNKED a pot plant, and is claimed to be such as Tasmania. Not only good on the coast, but most that, but cordylines (which are cordylines should be. pronounced ‘cord-ee-lines’) The single-trunked or plant labels tend to under­ ‘Electric Pink’: this is the provide superb statements of taller-growing varieties state heights). We make most popular variety of all NZ geometry within a garden are outstanding foliage this point because if you cordylines. It has very narrow design. You cannot really fail plants. They grow into plant a taller-growing leaves (often 1cm wide or less) to notice them as you walk by. a single-trunked plant variety up against a and they are striped a gelato pink And there’s more: they make with a tuft of foliage at house, it’ll very likely and deeper silver-burgundy. excellent pot plants and suffer the top held above the grow up underneath Probably it’s the densest clumper ‘Purple Dazzler’ ‘Sundance’ ‘Burgundy Spire’ ‘Albertii’ bare trunk. Sometimes the eaves and look bent very few diseases or pest of the lot and it grows about the top is branched, and unsightly. Nonethe­ problems, so they are perfect 1.5m tall. It’s best used in tropical- creating a fuller head. less, the taller-growing for low-maintenance gardens. themed gardens or in pots. The green parent spe- varieties can be pruned Broadly speaking, there are ‘Cabernett’: deep brownish cies grows 6-10m or back severely, which two groups of New Zealand red, shiny leaves are the feature more tall. These new will cause a number of cordylines: the low clumping of this variety. It produces mult­ varieties have lower new shoots to emerge types that are mostly around iple stems and grows around 2m heights, but one could from the single trunk. 1m tall, and the taller-growing tall. The darker brownish tint reasonably expect the As a group, these varie- palm-tree-like ones that grow in the leaves allows this plant plants to grow to at least ties tend to be hardier from 3m to 10m tall. On to mix with many decorator 3-5m tall over time (but and less disease-prone. these pages we profile the colours. It’s suited to pot and best of both cordyline types. garden use in many situations.

50 Burke’s Backyard ‘Red Chocolate’ ‘Purple Sensation’ ‘Tauranga Bay’ ‘Cabernett’Burke’s Backyard 51 DON’S AUTUMN TV SPECIAL Taller types yellowish midrib – a good mini- ature version of its big mother. ‘Red Chocolate’: this cordy­ ‘Sundance’: dark green leaves line develops a chocolate-red shade to pink at the base, creat- colour as it grows. It reaches ing an attractive red and green 3m or more tall and the foliage contrast. It grows 2m or more is quite glossy. It produces a but does not like over-watering. single trunk with several stout, ‘Peko’: this cordyline produces ascending branches over time. green leaves with carmine-red ‘Red Sensation’: its dark at the base on a plant growing red leaves age to a silvery-red to around 3m or more – another colour. The single trunk grows to very stylish bicolour. around 4m and it also branches ‘Torbay Dazzler’: 3-4m tall, at the top. Very useful foliage this has cream and green striped colour and quite a hardy plant. leaves with a pinkish midline on ‘Red Star’: with red to burg­ the new leaves. The main cream undy coloured leaves, this is also areas are often on the edges and noted for its white to tan col- although very attractive from a oured flowers. It’s claimed to distance, they may get brownish only grow to 2m tall, but perhaps areas caused by sunburn. you could expect a bit more, ‘Albertii’: appears to be the as plant labels are conservative. same as Torbay Dazzler. ‘Burgundy Spire’: has deep burgundy coloured narrow leaves which may be retained growing tips USING CORDYLINES to near ground level. It grows around 4m tall and is noted for Once established, its cold-hardiness. In containers: these are situations – around Cordyline australis ‘Purple Dazzler’: despite the wonderful pot plants. modern houses and in a varieties and hybrids name, this is another chocolate- They tolerate full sun to jumble of tropical foliage. don’t need a lot of burgundy variety. It grows at part shade and will with- Used in moderation water. Nonetheless, least 2.5m tall and produces stand neglect. You’ll need around modern houses, regular watering of upright, pointed leaves. Like all to carefully consider pot they add class and style. the young plants is colours to complement In a Balinese or Thai New Zealand cordylines, it is essential. The best their strong foliage col- style of garden, they add non-spiny and thus quite safe. foliage colour occurs ours. Softer, more neutral spectacle to the mix of ‘Purple Sensation’: growing in full sun to part pot colours will allow the foliage types. Plant the around 2m tall, this is listed as a shade in the garden. foliage colour to domi- clumping varieties at the variety of C. banksii. The leaves As the leaves age, nate. Try colours like front of the garden and are burgundy with pinkish-red they may discolour parchment, beige, coffee, the taller-growing, single- stripes. Its hardiness has yet and are best remov­ or soft browns. A flat trunked ones towards to be established in Australia. ed by a downward rather than glossy paint the middle or rear. The ‘Coffee and Cream’: this pulling action. Do finish seems to work single-trunked varieties one has a curious foliage colour; not over-fertilise well. Look for the second- would work well planted sort of a chocolate-green colour and do not over- ary foliage colour which in a group to form a with the older leaves a paler, water once estab- might be grey-purple, giant clump. When used almost creamy shade, but the lished. Renovation dull bronze, chocolate or in modern gardens, they bicolour effect is quite stylish. pruning of gangly, silvery-green. Use this look very good planted It should grow to around 4m. tall specimens is a as the colour to inspire in geometric rows in ‘Tauranga Bay’: supposedly good idea, and savage or match the pot colour. entranceways or in pairs a smallish-growing variety to pruning even to near In the garden: NZ cordy­ to define a garden high- around 2m tall, ‘Tauranga Bay’ ground level is OK.

lines work best in two light such as a gazebo. has green leaves with a paler Story by Don Burke, photos by Brent Wilson; our thanks to North Manly Garden Centre, NSW

52 Burke’s Backyard