Cabbage tree (Cordyline australis)
Care, watering, light and tips for Cabbage tree on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Asparagaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Indirect light
- Temperature: 10–35 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Cabbage tree
Cordyline australis, also known as Cordyline or Cabbage Tree, is a slow-growing tree-like plant native to New Zealand, developing a sturdy, branching trunk topped with rosettes of long, narrow leaves in shades of green, red, or bronze. Its elegant and exotic appearance makes it an ideal focal point for Mediterranean, subtropical gardens, or as a patio plant in large containers. It provides vertical structure and a tropical touch that enhances any landscape.
Native range
New Zealand
Care tips
It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil. It tolerates drought once established but appreciates regular watering in summer, allowing the substrate to dry out between waterings. Avoid waterlogging, as it is susceptible to root rot. Protect young plants from severe frosts.
How to save a dying Cabbage tree
- Warning signs
- Yellowing lower leaves, brown and dry tips, or soft and rotting stem.
- First aid
- If stem is soft, remove plant, check roots, and prune damaged parts. If leaves are dry, increase humidity and watering.
- What kills it
- Overwatering causing root rot, or underwatering/low humidity drying out leaves quickly.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if you act promptly. Stem rot is more serious, but it can still recover if there's healthy tissue.