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A few Cordyline questions

sockeyesockeye Posts: 1
edited June 2020 in The potting shed
Good afternoon everyone. I was wondering if anyone could answer a few questions I have about Cordyline plants I have.

1) How big does the root ball grow? If I plant a Cordyline and keep topping it so it doesn't go above 10 foot (I have a 20 foot long by 9 foot wide garden - so plan to put it well away from the house), will the root ball keep growing massively, or will it constrain it somewhat? What effect would it have on brick walls at the end? There seem to be plenty of people growing them near houses and fences, but for obvious reasons I am wary of planting something I later regret.

2) I have a potted Cherry Sensation Cordyline - I am informed these only grow to about 2 foot maximum, is this the case? The bottom leaves have drooped and are starting to brown - there appears to be some sort of yellowing colour near the stem, but the top appears fine, and there appears to be new growth with a deep pink leaf. Is this fungal or just part of the normal growth process?

Many thanks if anyone can help!

EDIT: I think I may have posted this in the wrong place - any idea how I move it to a more suitable place!

Posts

  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    I had a tree-sized cordyline cut down (hate them!) and it kept sprouting, so I tried to dig it out.  No chance; the root was like a giant carrot, no matter how deep I dug, it still kept going down.  And very little in the way of side roots.  So I don't think you need fear for your foundations.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    We have an Australis in our front "seasidy inspired shingle" front garden, its about 8 feet tall after 5 years, just flowered this year for the first time, the lower leaves do go brown, we have different ones planted in front of that, to distract from that.  Its quite funny, because we bought it from a specialist place, it was quite expensive, and Hubby was convinced they had sold us the wrong one because of the lack of flowers, well, he s been proved wrong then.If you "top" it you wond get flowers, in a garden your size I would confine it to a pot.
  • amberspyamberspy Posts: 382
    I actually just dug up my cordyline last weekend 
    it was in corner of front garden and was about 7 feet high about after 5 years I didn’t want it any higher and wanted to replace it so dug it up 
    root ball width wasn’t To bad only one foot wide but the deep ness of it was mad it actually broke in half 
    so had keep digging right down I would said about 2 and a half feet or more 
    it took me four hours to get it all out 
    I’ve replace it with cream delight 
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited June 2020
    I live N. Devon / Cornwall borders. They grow like weeds . 
    I wish 99% of them would be cut down as only about 1% are attractive. IMHO
    Most just look like big bog brushes
    Devon.
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    Hostafan1 said:
    I live N. Devon / Cornwall borders. They grow like weeds . 
    I wish 99% of them would be cut down as only about 1% are attractive. IMHO
    Most just look like big bog brushes

    I'm glad it's not just me.  I think it started as a status symbol in the west country resorts:  "Look, our climate is so balmy, we can grow palm trees; who needs the mediterranean?"  I think they should be banned from everywhere north of Marseille.  I acquired two of them with my present house.  I had them both cut down pronto, but they refuse to die and six years later, they still keep sprouting tufts of leaves.
  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    Oh dear @Hostafan1 and @josusa47 I've had to go and give my beautiful cordyline a cuddle, how can you call them a bog brush 😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited June 2020
    On a plus note, "The Beast" knocked  a fair few out .
    For me, they're in the same group as :smile:
    Hanging baskets
    Lavender hedges
    Window boxes
    Rockeries 

    For every good one  you see, you see 100s of horrors
    Devon.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Better not invite your round then Hosta!!  I have 15 hanging baskstes, plus my orchids are in hanging baskets under trees in the shade, 2 window boxes (metal) on my kitchen window sill, far nicer than looking at a plastic water butt, not rockery as such, a shadey border with expensive big rocks, planted (you will be pleased to hear) with hostas,ferns,heuchera, astilbes, rhododendrons, rodgersias, logs covered in moss.  Not got a lavender hedge, as such, bought a metal sundial last year, its on a plinth thing made of stone, in the middle of a bed surrounded by lavender plants, saw similar in a medaeval garden.
  • nicola_onicola_o Posts: 5
    I have 3 big multi stemmed ones, as tall as the house roof and I love them. They can shed a lot but when they flower on mass they are beautiful. 
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