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Multi-stem Cordyline Australis

Paul_Williams1972Paul_Williams1972 Posts: 12
in Problem solving
Good evening everyone, 

I have a lovely Cordyline in my back garden and, as you'll see from the pictures, it's doing really well. Now that the tree has got a bit older and the trunk line is getting more visible, it is clear that there are actually 3 trunks. Ideally, I only want one straight trunk not 3 going off at different angles. It is no issue now as the tree is relatively low but in the future the 3 trunks will become more distinct and not grow 'straight up' as I would like. So is it best that I remove 2 of the trunks at ground level (and try to grow them in separate pots?) or can I somehow bind the 3 trunks together to form one big trunk growing straight up?  If the latter is possible, would I need to firstly remove the 'inside leaves' as there would now be no space there or should I just avoid this idea altogether?

Many thanks

Paul

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  • Paul_Williams1972Paul_Williams1972 Posts: 12
    Does anyone have any advice on this please? I’m tempted to tie them together and see what happens! 

    Thanks. 
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited April 2021
    IMHO only one can survive, the decking or the cordyline.  ( I'd keep the decking  ;) )
    I think the vast majority of single stemmed cordyline look like Bog brushes. so I'd say, leave the multi-stemmed plant if at all. 
    Devon.
  • Paul_Williams1972Paul_Williams1972 Posts: 12
    Not a fan of Cordylines then? 😊

    It’s the ‘bog brush’ look I’m going for I’m afraid so, putting your dislike for cordylines aside, do you think the binding theory would work or should I cut two of the trunks?
    if the proximity to the decking becomes a problem, I’ll deal with that when the time comes. 👍🏼

    Thank you. 
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I believe if you cut the stems , they'll just sprout back, many times per stem. You might be making things worse. I'd not tie them together. .
    I live in Devon, close to the Cornwall border, 10 miles from the coast and they're everywhere. 
    For every nice specimen, you see 100s of horrors. 
    Devon.
  • Paul_Williams1972Paul_Williams1972 Posts: 12
    is there a ‘detrimental to the health of the plant’ reason you wouldn’t tie them together?

    As for cutting, then I think they would sprout back but that wouldn’t be a problem as I could easily get on top of that. I just don’t want to cut them if tying them together would work. 

    Cheers. 
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Do you want to look at "the tie" forever more?
    Do you think that would be attractive?
    Devon.
  • Paul_Williams1972Paul_Williams1972 Posts: 12
    No but I was hoping that if I started them out in the right direction, they would continue to grow together, straight up? 😊
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Paul_Williams1972 said:
    No but I was hoping that if I started them out in the right direction, they would continue to grow together, straight up? 😊
    I admire your optimism, but don't share it.  ;)
    Devon.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If you tie them together you’ll still have three separate ‘heads’ rather than one ... each will have its own individual growing point.  

    You can’t make three trunks into one ‘big brush’ any more than tieing three rose buds together will result in something that looks like one bloom. 

    Sorry ... if you want one big brush you’ll have to dig that clump up and start again. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Paul_Williams1972Paul_Williams1972 Posts: 12
    Fair points and thanks to you both for the advice. I think I’ll cut 2 of the 3 trunks and try to root them somewhere else. No room in my garden so I’ll try to grow them in pots and give them away if they succeed. 
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