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| Cordalyne | Common name; Cabbage Palm |
A tender or half-hardy evergreen palm-like shrub / tree grown for its long-pointed, narrow leaves with red or yellow midribs.
It flowers in late June to early July, followed clusters of round purple berries in autumn.
Because of its dubious hardiness in the UK, they are mainly grown outdoors in milder areas of the south and west, but require greenhouse / indoor cultivation in northern areas.
If grown in the border they can grow to 7metres (20ft) high.
They require well-drained garden soil in full sun or partial shade.
When grown pots / containers the height can be controlled to around 2metres (6ft) high.
Ideally, pot-grown plants should be over-wintered under glass, watered sparingly and returned outdoors when the risk of frost has passed.
Pot grown plants should be grown in 200-300mm (8”-12”") pots of potting compost
Provide a minimum winter temperature of 8°C (45°F), keeping the plant in a position where it can receive maximum light.
If this is not possible, move the plant close to a warm wall against the house, this will keep much of the frost off.
Wrapping the pot in bubble-wrap or horticultural fleece will help to protect the vulnerable roots.
Avoid temperatures (all the year round) in excess of 16°C (60°F)
Place plants outdoors in a bright, sheltered spot during the summer.
It is best to stake newly planted plants to prevent wind rock.
Water freely during summer, but keep the plants just moist during winter.
Liquid feed with a balanced fertiliser every week to ten days from May till September.
Re-pot every other year in March.
Week 12; Sow seed in pots/trays of seed compost and germinate at 21°-24°C (70°-75°F)
Pot seedlings on into 75mm (3") when large enough to handle.
Pot on mature plants as necessary.
Week 13; Detach suckers and pot them up into 100mm (4") pots and grow on for a year in a greenhouse or conservatory, maintaining a minimum temperature of 13°C (55°F).
Pot on as necessary until they are in their final 200mm (8") pots
Adding grit to the potting compost will aid drainage and reduce the risk of a waterlogged root system
Week 20;alternatively, cut stems of old leggy plants into 75mm (3") pieces.
Bury the pieces vertically in pots of a 50-50 (by volume) peat/sand mixture and propagate at a temperature of 21°C(70°F).
As new growth appears pot up singly, into the next size of pot until reaching final pot size.
Adding grit to the potting compost will aid drainage and reduce the risk of a waterlogged root system.
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