Are cabbage trees native to NZ?

Cabbage trees are one of the most widely cultivated New Zealand natives and are very popular in Europe, Britain and the U.S. In the U.K. they are known as Torquay palm. Cabbage trees are good colonising species, growing happily on bare ground or exposed places.

What does it mean when cabbage trees flower?

A cabbage tree will grow multiple shoots if the trunk is cut. Cabbage tree flowers and fruit provide food for native and introduced birds. Ngai Tahu believe early and heavy flowering of ti kouka signifies hot summer conditions.

What do you do with cabbage leaves?

Lawn mower tangles aside, let’s appreciate that cabbage tree leaves can be an asset to us, too. Bundle up a handful, fold them in half, tie them off with another leaf and store them in a dry place. Firestarters all winter. Garden Life is produced by Dunedin Botanic Garden.

How do you take care of a cabbage tree?

Properly watering cabbage palms is the key to Cordyline indivisa care. These plants do best if the soil is kept moist (but not soggy) during the growing season. Water less frequently in the winter, but don’t allow the soil surrounding the rhizomatous roots to dry out completely.

Is it illegal to cut down cabbage trees in NZ?

Department of Conservation principal policy analyst Paula Warren says there is no statute giving legal protection for cabbage trees in New Zealand, despite popular perceptions. Regional authority Environment Canterbury also states on its website “cabbage trees are not a protected plant therefore they can be cut down”.

How fast does cabbage tree grow?

Because it takes about two years for a particular stem to produce an inflorescence, cabbage trees tend to flower heavily in alternative years, with a bumper flowering every three to five years.

Why are they called cabbage trees?

British navigator James Cook bestowed the name ‘cabbage tree’ on the giant New Zealand tree lily Cordyline australis, which Māori called tī kōuka. Cook called it a cabbage tree because the young leaves are edible, and his name has stuck.

How quickly do cabbage trees grow?

Why is my cabbage tree dying?

Scientists have discovered the cause of the cabbage tree disease which has wiped out large numbers of the native tree. Landcare Research and HortResearch scientists say a bacterium called phytoplasma, which lives in plant sap, causes the leaves to turn yellow and drop.