Nick,

The cabbage tree - cordyline banksii - is not the same as a Cornish /
Torbay Palm.
See www.trevenacross.co.uk/shop/page4a.htm. It's smaller & slower
growing.

Graham

Nick G wrote:

The largest tree in our garden, which after many years without a severe
winter is now well 20 feet tall, is a mass of flowers, and the scent is
amazing.

I noticed the palms' blossom/flowers were amazing too when I ventured into
Exeter the other day.

I gather they are not real palm trees; I think they are called Cabbage Trees
in their native Australasia and are related to the Yucca.

I have seen them growing back up in the West Midlands so they must be pretty
frost hardy.
________________
Nick G
Otter Valley, Devon
70 m amsl
http://www.ottervalley.co.uk