Cordyline australis varieties

There is a wide range of C. australis varieties now available, and all should be suitable for growing on Jersey as we have a mild climate. These varieties are the most hardy of the cordylines, and most adaptable. Although they are tolerant of various soil types, they should not be planted in very wet or waterlogged soil, as the combination of wet roots in a cold winter are likely to be detrimental to the plants.
Seeds of many cordyline varieties (plus lots of other great New Zealand plants) are available from www.nzseeds.co.nz. I have used this company for several of the hard to find varieties and they are very helpful. (Please mention us when you contact them!)

	C. australis This is the ’standard’ green type seen all around Jersey. However, all cordylines hybridise easily and there are a host of different selections, all green and superficially the same. There are often subtle differences in mid rib or leaf colour and leaf width. Some will also retain older leaves for several years, with others shedding leaves after only 2 years. All are fast growing, reaching 2m in 6-8 years if planted in the ground. ’Plain’ green cordylines are widely available and we always have this variety in stock.
Sundance This is a popular variety with wide green leaves and a deep red flush to the base of each leaf. Although I have included Sunset as a separate variety below, there is really very little difference between them. This is a strong, hardy variety reaching 2m in 8 years. It is widely available in garden centres. Like the green version, these will flower, and then branch into 2 or more stems after about 5 years in the ground.
	Red Star/Torbay Red Widely available in garden centres and nurseries, this variety is more popular than the old purple leaved selections of ’Atropurpureum’ that turned a muddy brown colour with age. The short leaves are a vivid wine red, and the colour is retained as they age, varying slightly according to the air temperature. The plants are fast growing, and are often seen as a seasonal summer bedding ’dot’ plant or in containers. They should reach 2m in 8 years.
Variegata/Albertii/Torbay Dazzler/(Sparkler) This is my personal favourite of the C. australis species. Whilst there are subtle differences between the older Variegata/Albertii and the newer Dazzler/Sparkler, the beauty of the green, cream and pink markings on these is wonderful. Each leaf has variable stripes of yellows, creams and greens, with a pale pink hue along the mid rib and towards the stem base. Sparkler is a virus reduced version of Torbay Dazzler that performs better, but all these variegated types are slow growing, and can take 10 years + to reach 2m. They grow as single stem specimens only.
	Sunset/Torbay Sunset/Autumn As mentioned under Sundance, these varieties are all very similar, although there are comments that the leaves are longer and they are faster growing. They seem to have thinner leaves with an extension of the red colouration along the mid rib. As we only have young plants here, I will update you on this as they grow! Update: Autumn has a more pronounced dark red/purple flush to the leaf base, the other two is more red.
Pink Stripe/Kiwi Dazzler A super colour variation, with a deep wine leaf and a pale pink stripe down the centre. I believe that there is some concern over the colour stability in the long term (with older plants reverting to plain purple leaves) and Pink Stripe is being phased out in the UK. Kiwi Dazzler is the name given to the same variety in New Zealand. Our plants are only 2 years old, so again, I’ll let you know how they grow! Update: We have seen NO colour reversion in our stock and the colour remains striking.
	Pink Champagne Another variegated form, with very narrow leaves. The leaves have a cream edge, and a deep pink base, extending up the mid rib. A very pretty variety but seems to be very slow growing. Update: One for long term pot culture, this is ideal as it is so slow growing and remains manageable for several years.
Coffee Cream/Torbay Coffee and Cream This is a sport of Pink Stripe, with long purple/brown leaves and a cream mid rib. It appears to be fast growing, and fairly cold hardy, but the colour may limit it to specialist landscape designs as it is not to everyone’s taste. Update: Makes a large plant with lovely weeping leaves as it grows.