Cordyline australis (Cabbage Palm) seeds

Very popular and striking architectural plant from Australia and New Zealand, with spiky, sword shaped leaves and panicles of sweetly scented, white flowers when mature. Fast growing and requiring little care other than removing any straggly lower leaves, the Cabbage Palm is an essential addition to any jungle, exotic or mediterranean themed garden. Hardy in mild areas, it will happily tolerate down to at least -5C, but we would recommend a fleece jacket in winter at lower temperatures, in exposed positions and when young to minimise leaf damage.

Hardy Palm (to -5C)
Height: 4-8m
Flowers: Summer on mature plants
Position: Sun or semi-shade

Packet of 30 seeds

GROWING GUIDE

Pre-Sowing Treatment: Soak the seeds in hand hot water for 1 hour.

Sowing Instructions:  Sow at any time of the year. Sow very thinly in trays or pots of a moist seed compost, eg John Innes mixed with a little vermiculite. Cover with a light sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. Place in a propagator or seal inside a polythene bag and maintain an optimum temperature of 18-21C. Germination should take place in 4 – 10 weeks. Note: Germination can be very erratic, so sow thinly and prick out the seedlings as they become large enough to handle disturbing the rest of the compost as little as possible.

Growing Instructions:  Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into 7 - 9cm pots. Over-winter at a temperature of no less than 5C for the first couple of winters. When well established, plants can be hardened off in late spring (place plants outdoors during the day and bring back in at night for 10 days), planted in pots or in the garden in a sunny position in well-drained soil.

Plants will need protection in winter for the first few years and when temperatures drop below -4C. An added benefit of wrapping plants is the leaves are not damaged by the frosts. Move potted plants to a frost free place and water sparingly and wrap plants in the garden with a fleece jacket.