How to Grow Cabbage Palm
Cordyline australis
Cordyline australis is an architectural evergreen tree with sword-shaped leaves, thriving in mild coastal and urban gardens. Plant in well-drained soil in full sun or light shade, sheltered from cold winds. Young plants need winter protection with fleece wrapping in colder areas until established.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring. Container plants benefit from monthly liquid feeds during summer.
Watch For
- Cordyline slime flux (bacterial infection)
- Crown rot in wet winters
- Scale insects
Track your Cabbage Palm care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Full sun to light shade.
Most vigorous and upright in full sun; tolerates light shade but may become looser in habit.
💧 Watering
Minimal once established; drought-tolerant.
Container plants need regular watering throughout summer. In-ground plants rarely need irrigation once established.
🌱 Fertilizing
Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring.
Feed container plants monthly with a liquid fertiliser during summer. In-ground plants need little additional feeding.
✂️ Pruning
Remove dead lower leaves annually in spring.
Cut frost-damaged growth back in late spring once new growth confirms the plant has survived.
❄️ Overwintering
Hardy to about -5°C when established.
Wrap the crown of young plants with horticultural fleece before hard frosts. Avoid wet mulches against the base.
Growing Tips
Wrap young plants in winter
Tie leaves upward into a bundle and wrap the crown with 2-3 layers of horticultural fleece before hard frosts. Established plants of 5 or more years are much hardier and rarely need protection.
Remove dead lower leaves annually
Strip brown, hanging lower leaves in spring to reveal a clean trunk. This also reduces hiding spots for pests and diseases.
Perfect for coastal gardens
One of the most wind-tolerant architectural plants available. Salt spray and exposed sites cause no problems once the plant is established.
Multi-stemmed form after frost damage
If the growing point is killed by frost, new side shoots often emerge from the trunk, creating an attractive multi-headed specimen over time.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Scale Insects
Identification: Brown, limpet-like bumps on stems and leaves with sticky honeydew residue below.
- Scrape off with a soft brush dipped in soapy water.
- Apply neem oil spray for persistent infestations.
- Apply a systemic insecticide for heavy infestations.
Pest Mealybugs
Identification: White cottony masses in leaf axils and along stems with sticky honeydew.
- Dab with a cotton bud dipped in methylated spirits.
- Ensure good air circulation around the plant.
- Apply a systemic insecticide for severe infestations.
Disease Cordyline Slime Flux Bacterial wetwood
Symptoms: Foul-smelling, slimy bacterial ooze weeping from cracks or wounds in the trunk.
Treatment: Cut back to clean wood, sterilising tools between cuts. Improve drainage and avoid wetting the trunk.
Prevention: Avoid wounding the trunk; ensure good drainage.
Disease Crown Rot (Phytophthora) Phytophthora spp.
Symptoms: The growing point rots and collapses in cold, wet winters; leaves turn yellow and the crown becomes mushy.
Treatment: Remove affected tissue and improve drainage. No effective chemical treatment once established.
Prevention: Avoid mulching against the base; ensure free-draining soil.
Log Cabbage Palm in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
Start planning free