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What is this? Can it be saved?

DesthemoanerDesthemoaner Posts: 191
in Plants
Afternoon all
First message here for a couple of years. Good to be back. 

Attached please find a photo of a plant we inherited when we moved here in May 22. At the time it was wedged between two bushes of ( to me) unknown species, which I have now removed in order to make more room and give this spiky feller more air, light and hopefully nutrient. But am I too late? The photos make the leaves look green in places, but in fact its almost entirely brown and I'm concerned that I might be too late. From what I can gather it was planted about 10 years ago, and there are plenty of similar examples in this area so they clearly thrive ( its clay subsoil and we're about half a mile from the Irish Sea). Can it be saved, and what should I call it? 

Many thanks in advance, and apologies for the pictures not having saved the right way round ( I tried, honest I did) 

. 


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Posts

  • JohnjoeJohnjoe Posts: 77
    Looks like a Cordyline, my friend has one in her garden for years, usually she strips off the lower leaves one by one as they droop or dry out, I don't think anything is wrong with yours? I'd just start stripping the leaves one by one from the bottom, working up until you like the new shape.
     
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited July 2023
    Cordyline.

    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited July 2023
    Yes - the old leaves wither and drop, creating a clearer trunk as it grows. Remove them close to the trunk - sharp scissors are easier. Just be careful of your eyes as the new growth can be sharp.
    You've been lucky - many people have lost them because of the wet/freeze cycle during winter. If you're more coastal, that's the reason it's managed so well. It looks a good sheltered site too, which always helps   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DesthemoanerDesthemoaner Posts: 191
    edited July 2023
     Many thanks, folks. The reason why I thought it might be on its last spikes was because we had one in our previous garden and it was far more green, as are most of the others I've seen around here. Plus the fact that the edges of the leaves were exceedingly sharp, whereas the leaves on this one are less so, though I guess that's because they've had it and need to be removed. It'd be nice to think it has a future anyhow, and I'll carry out the maintenance as suggested. 
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Not all cordylines are green!
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Yours is a red Cordyline.  Once you’ve removed all the brown lower leaves it should look pretty good! The green and variegated ones are often mistaken for Yuccas which do have sharp pointed leaves and edges.  You could also give your plant some help by adding a mulch of organic matter to the surrounding soil, ideally after some rain or watering.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    @Desthemoaner    Yours looks to be the C  Atropurpureaa - some times/some areas not as hardy as the basic one.
    The crown looks nice and healthy so just a tidy up of the dead/dying leaves should see you right  :)

  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    Yes definitely red cordyline and I would call it Spikey .
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - as @philippasmith2 says, just a tidy up and a mulch as @Plantminded mentions is always useful to benefit the soil  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DesthemoanerDesthemoaner Posts: 191
     Once again, thanks to all who've responded.

    I've removed all the loose leaves from the lower part of the trunk, stem or whatever its called on a plant of this kind, and I'm now convinced that its alive, and if not "kicking", then "waving its leafy bits around in the wind". 

    The soil around it will receive the advised attention too.  :)
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