Aiming for the palm tree look in Yorkshire 😂

Posts

• treehugger80 Posts: 1,923

  July 2018

  erm, that is a cordyline? for multi-stem you take a single stem and chop the top off, it will then send side shoots out, however it will look awful (like a dead stick) while it does that.
  

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• Steph17 Posts: 21

  July 2018

  Oh! is it?! thanks. Didn't occur to me that it could be one, as looks so exotic, surrounded by big palms (and a pool). guess that answers myquestion. do it now, or in the spring?

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• treehugger80 Posts: 1,923

  July 2018

  i would do it in spring (maybe late April/early May), you might not get enough hardened growth to get it through the winter if you chop it now
  

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• a1154 Posts: 1,108

  July 2018

  I’m north of you Steph, but I can’t get Cordyline through a winter here. Trachycarpus fortunei is fine though. Any type of phormium is good, and also fatsia japonica looks tropical. I like bamboo too, but I’m probably on my own there! 

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• UpNorth Posts: 376

  July 2018

  Cordyline just needs sandy soil and not to be too exposed to winds whipping it's leaves to bits.  If you're fairly enclosed/residential and soil not too heavy then cordyline would work well.
  
  Are you thinking Mediterranean type look or just exotic....or even jungle?   The type of soil and amount of sunshine would ideally drive your choices 

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• Marlorena Posts: 8,705

  July 2018

  I think the plant in the photo is Dracaena Draco, which you would normally see in Spain...
  
  Besides Cordyline Australis, you might like to try Euphorbia mellifera for a sub tropical look.... it's hardy to at least -12C surprisingly, given a bit of shelter.   This one in a pot below survived beast of the east unscathed without any winter protection, and the 2nd photo is a large one I have in the ground for many years... been through all the winters in East Anglia..... it's worth a try..  best of luck..
  
  
  
  
  

  East Anglia, England

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• Steph17 Posts: 21

  July 2018

  Thanks All, ive grown both cordyline and phormium (enormous) before in this area. I haven’t got space for phormium now, but i thought splitting the heads of cordyline would have the desired effect in one particular spot (i am starting with a new garden), i don’t want a jungle look, just an exotic corner! I’ve too many plants on my wish list..... I will, of course, look up all of your suggestions. 
  I wish you could like peoples posts on here, a la facebook.

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