Cool Cordyline Species

[JasonD]

Another pitch: Who's growing Cordyline banksii, C. indivisa?

[Tropicgardener]

Neither of those species will grow here as they don't like the combination of heat and humidity

[Eric in Orlando]

Cordyline dracaenoides

Cordyline manners-suttoniae

Cordyline petiolaris

[Tropicgardener]

Eric, nice to see some of the Australian Cordylines in cultivation in the U.S. Cordyline manners-suttoniae is found locally in my area.

[Palm crazy]

Another pitch: Who's growing Cordyline banksii, C. indivisa?

Here's my C.indivisa, photo was from last year, I grew it from a plug. Doesn't need much heat to grow and one of very few that likes a little shade.

Two photos.

Cordyline A. 'torbay dazzler', this photo is from January this year, planted since then.

Edited April 29, 2011 by Palm crazy

[daxin]

Jason,

San Marcos has C. banksii and Monrovia has C. indivisa. Gary Gragg has some but not sure which species. Here is a photo from last year.

[Tropicgardener]

Jason,

San Marcos has C. banksii and Monrovia has C. indivisa. Gary Gragg has some but not sure which species. Here is a photo from last year.

I can almost certainly say that these are Cordyline petiolaris......An Australian native from the humid subtropics of Queensland and Northern New South Wales.

[Palm crazy]

Jason,

San Marcos has C. banksii and Monrovia has C. indivisa. Gary Gragg has some but not sure which species. Here is a photo from last year.

Monrovia has it wrong.

Some growers in the USA are still using the incorrect name C. indivisia, but are really growing C. 'australis'. To bad they are not growing the real C. indivisia , a much more exotic looking cordyline.

I got mine from 'Rare plant research' a nursery just outside of Portland, Oregon.

Edited May 2, 2011 by Palm crazy

[The Silent Seed]

Dracaena indivisa (???) is sold as a plug plant here in New England, and costs $1 each, or less - very common and used as an annual. Can somebody please confirm that is really what they are, or a Cordyline, or what ?

There's also a purple leaf form of the same.

[JasonD]

Dracaena indivisa (???) is sold as a plug plant here in New England, and costs $1 each, or less - very common and used as an annual. Can somebody please confirm that is really what they are, or a Cordyline, or what ?

There's also a purple leaf form of the same.

The green ones used as annuals in New England are Cordyline australis. The colorful ones are selections and hybrids of same, like 'Atropurpurea', 'Dark Star', and 'Red Star'.

Daxin, I've not yet seen San Marcos's C. banksii crop.

Suncrest had a crop of either C. indivisa or C. banksii last year (can't remember which) but it turned out to be C. australis.

I once grew a crop off the now-deceased C. banksii at SFBG, some individuals of which are still scattered around town (including in my backyard). Some of them are clear X self and others are X australis.

[The Silent Seed]

I think there are two types of plants being discussed as the annual plugs - one has wider leaves (Cordylines including those cultivars), and then there's one that has grass-like long leaves - quite distinct from the other. If somebody else knows what I'm talking about, please chime in.

Best, Jude

[Roaringwater]

C. indivisa has the most impressive foliage of any Cordyline species, IMO. It is actually slightly hardier than C. australis, but is very vulnerable to attack by phytophthora. Avoid clay soils and seepage areas. Although it comes from mountainous areas, it tolerates salt winds very well. Here is a link to a mature specimen growing at Mount Stewart Gardens, Northern Ireland.

Cordyline indivisa

[SubTropicRay]

Real beauties!

[Eric in Orlando]

I've tried C. banksii and C. indivisia here and neither survive.

Most C. australis die here too.

[Palm crazy]

Here is last years link to some of the cordylines I have and most of these are only one/two years in the ground. Cordyline red sensation ( not hardy for me hates wet cold winters) die to the ground this winter but the rest are ok and some will develop trunks this summer.

Click here. http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=23906&st=0&p=397673&hl=cordylines&fromsearch=1&#entry397673

Edited May 13, 2011 by Palm crazy

[Palm crazy]

Here is this years new one or at least new for me. Easy to fine in Cali but not in Washington state. I got two then someone got the last three.

Cordyline australis 'Krakatoa' likes to grow in part shade during the hottest weather other wise color bleaches out.

[Tropicgardener]

Here is this years new one or at least new for me. Easy to fine in Cali but not in Washington state. I got two then someone got the last three.

Cordyline australis 'Krakatoa' likes to grow in part shade during the hottest weather other wise color bleaches out.

These are gorgeous, the red is stunning.........if only they wouldn't collapse on me in the summer months !!!

[hydrophyte]

I'd like to resurrect this thread. I am interested in tracking down some species Cordyline to try as potted houseplants here in Wisconsin, USA. I can also give plants some indoor protection during our long cold and dry wintertime here.

Can anybody suggest ideas for finding some of these true species such as C. banksii, C. petiolaris, C. indivisia or others for mail order?

[hydrophyte]

Here's the whole list of everything that RarePalmSeeds.com is currently offering...

• Cordyline australis
  
• Cordyline banksii
  
• Cordyline dracaenoides
  
• Cordyline fruticosa (= C. terminalis)
  
• Cordyline indivisa
  
• Cordyline mauritiana
  
• Cordyline neocaledonica
  
• Cordyline petiolaris
  
• Cordyline pumilio
  
• Cordyline sp. (Cyclops)
  
• Cordyline sp. (Wide Leaf)
  
• Cordyline stricta
  

I'd be interested in any observations or thoughts on germinating and growing any of these.

[Palm crazy]

I'd like to resurrect this thread. I am interested in tracking down some species Cordyline to try as potted houseplants here in Wisconsin, USA. I can also give plants some indoor protection during our long cold and dry wintertime here.

Can anybody suggest ideas for finding some of these true species such as C. banksii, C. petiolaris, C. indivisia or others for mail order?

Fry Road Nursery does mail order, they have a few nice colorful hybrids. Their shipping is pretty high! They have a lot Heat and Cool loving tropicals you might like to, check them out. (Wholesale / Retail)

http://www.storesonlinepro.com/store/2418111/search?pathprefix=%2Fstore%2F2418111%2F&account=2418111&pid=1326576920702&searchwords_4920=cordyline

Edited January 17, 2012 by Palm crazy

[hydrophyte]

Thanks! They do have some nice stuff. Like I said I am hunting for species plants.

[Tropicgardener]

Here's the whole list of everything that RarePalmSeeds.com is currently offering...

• Cordyline australis
  
• Cordyline banksii
  
• Cordyline dracaenoides
  
• Cordyline fruticosa (= C. terminalis)
  
• Cordyline indivisa
  
• Cordyline mauritiana
  
• Cordyline neocaledonica
  
• Cordyline petiolaris
  
• Cordyline pumilio
  
• Cordyline sp. (Cyclops)
  
• Cordyline sp. (Wide Leaf)
  
• Cordyline stricta
  

I'd be interested in any observations or thoughts on germinating and growing any of these.

Cordyline stricta and Cordyline petiolaris are both Australian native Cordylines that occur naturally in the subtropical rainforests of Queensland and northern New South Wales. They are both easy species to propagate and grow and will grow in just about any soil as long as it is well drained. Seed strikes very easily and has quite long viability. Cordyline petiolaris is one of my favourite Australian Natives, but can only be grown successfully by seed or by tuber cuttings.....it doesn't strike well from cuttings.

[hydrophyte]

Hey thank you so much!

I hope that I can track down some seed.

[JasonD]

Here's the whole list of everything that RarePalmSeeds.com is currently offering...

• Cordyline australis - easy to germinate; try 50-75F
• Cordyline banksii - also easy, same temp range. Beautiful broad leaves arranged in clear spirals in the crown. Branches.
• Cordyline dracaenoides
• Cordyline fruticosa (= C. terminalis)
• Cordyline indivisa - I'd suggest cooler temps, 40-70F; protect from heat
• Cordyline mauritiana
• Cordyline neocaledonica
• Cordyline petiolaris
• Cordyline pumilio - A grassy species, tough, minimal trunking
• Cordyline sp. (Cyclops)
• Cordyline sp. (Wide Leaf)
• Cordyline stricta - easy to grow indoors but gets mealybug. Pretty purple flowers. Thicketing, each stem is slender with dainty leaves. Almost like a large Miscanthus.

I'd be interested in any observations or thoughts on germinating and growing any of these.

[DavePoole]

Cordylines seems to do quite well in our cool, humid climate and C. indivisa is something of a star performer albeit slower than australis, banksii and stricta. I grew mine from seed some years ago and this one was seriously neglected for 2 years or so. Despite being dried out, frozen solid and generally kicked about, it immediately responded to a bit of TLC and is now developing into a very handsome plant with a thick, 30" trunk. This was taken back in January just as it was resuming growth. A new offset has appeared in the past 12 months so with a bit of luck it will eventually become a multi-trunked specimen.

And 12 months earlier:

[Tropicgardener]

Cordylines seems to do quite well in our cool, humid climate and C. indivisa is something of a star performer albeit slower than australis, banksii and stricta. I grew mine from seed some years ago and this one was seriously neglected for 2 years or so. Despite being dried out, frozen solid and generally kicked about, it immediately responded to a bit of TLC and is now developing into a very handsome plant with a thick, 30" trunk. This was taken back in January just as it was resuming growth. A new offset has appeared in the past 12 months so with a bit of luck it will eventually become a multi-trunked specimen.

And 12 months earlier:

Nice Photos there Dave, I have seen the cool climate New Zealand Cordylines growing in gardens featured on the British show 'Escape to the Country'. They are obviously quite cold tolerant.....they don't do any good here though, they survive ok in the winter but the tropical humid summers knock them over.

[JasonD]

That's the biggest indivisa I've ever seen in cultivation! Congratulations.