Cordyline manners-suttoniae

[Eric in Orlando]

Anyone else growing Cordyline manners-suttoniae ? It is native to Queensland, Australia where it grows in swamps and rain forests. These specimens were planted here at Leu Gardens back in March 2008. They have thrived and have grown to about 10 feet tall. The flowers are white and in panicles. The bright red fruit is very showy against the glossy green foliage and stands out in the darker shade. 

[annafl]

Wish I did, Eric.  I've never seen such striking berries on a ti!  Beautiful!

 

[fastfeat]

Nice!

[tropicbreeze]

I collected some seed a number of years back but I've found the seedlings very slow growing. Probably need a lot more water than they're getting through our dry season. Would have been a lot better with cuttings though.

 

[Eric in Orlando]

They do like lots of water. When I grew these from seed they were slow at first but eventually became fast, robust growers. 

I've tried seeds from our plants but no germination so I guess they aren't getting pollinated. And I haven't ever found any stray seedlings underneath them.

 

[Eric in Orlando]

I wonder if any breeders have tried to cross this with cultivars of Cordyline fruticosa to develop very large colored hybrids.

[Tropicgardener]

On ‎7‎/‎26‎/‎2017‎ ‎10‎:‎28‎:‎05‎, Eric in Orlando said:

I wonder if any breeders have tried to cross this with cultivars of Cordyline fruticosa to develop very large colored hybrids.

It is a locally native species to where I live. Occurs from Central coastal Queensland up to North Queensland....... Loves growing along my creek and will grow in full sun with no problems......... I also have a narrow leaved form of it as well as a variegated form. 

[Eric in Orlando]

Wow, a variegated form! Do you have a photo of it?

[Eric in Orlando]

We are also growing Cordyline petiolaris from eastern Australia. It looks similar but has more narrow leaves.

[Tropicgardener]

16 hours ago, Eric in Orlando said:

Wow, a variegated form! Do you have a photo of it?

 

16 hours ago, Eric in Orlando said:

We are also growing Cordyline petiolaris from eastern Australia. It looks similar but has more narrow leaves.

Eric I Will try to get a photo of it during daylight and post it......... It is in pretty bad shape after Cyclone Debbie flattened the place........ Cordyline petiolaris is probably my favourite native Cordyline. It is a subtropical species that doesn't occur this far north although I do have one growing. The form I have has red strips on the leaves during the cooler months and was found by a collector in a gully west of Brisbane. I can't really photograph it as it is still recovering from being shredded during the cyclone. I will see if I have a photo from last year of it.

 

[Eric in Orlando]

Thanks!!!