I stand corrected :-)

Norman

The Cornish Palm (Cordyline australis) may not strictly speaking be a
palm, but is almost universally regarded as one. The last really cold
spell ('87 I think) killed a lot, and even the -4.5C in Jan '97 killed
some off. They are susceptible to being killed by ice crystals, even
at -2 or -3.
This variety certainly grows in western Scotaland.

The cabbage tree is supposed to be hardier.

The Eden web page on the Cornish palm and asssociated varieties.
www.cornishoasis.com/detail.aspx?p=342&s=59

Graham
Penzance

On 5 Feb, 09:16, Graham Easterling wrote:
I stand corrected :-)

Norman

The Cornish Palm (Cordyline australis) may not strictly speaking be a
palm, but is almost universally regarded as one. The last really cold
spell ('87 I think) killed a lot, and even the -4.5C in Jan '97 killed
some off. They are susceptible to being killed by ice crystals, even
at -2 or -3.
This variety certainly grows in western Scotaland.

The cabbage tree is supposed to be hardier.

The Eden web page on the Cornish palm and asssociated varieties.www.cornishoasis.com/detail.aspx?p=342&s=59

Graham
Penzance

Why is it I always type Scotaland when I mean Scotland

The cabbage tree is supposed to be hardier.


The term 'cabbage tree' here is normally given to the redder variety,
I've no idea if the same holds true in England!

Graham

The Cornish Palm (Cordyline australis) may not strictly speaking be a
palm, but is almost universally regarded as one. The last really cold
spell ('87 I think) killed a lot, and even the -4.5C in Jan '97 killed
some off. They are susceptible to being killed by ice crystals, even
at -2 or -3.

Graham

I grew the variegated Cordyline australis in my garden back in Worcester. In
fact, they grew everywhere as the local garden centre was always flogging
them off cheap so everybody bought one thinking how exotic they were. Frosts
down to -8C didn't seem to bother them at all.

I also had a canary palm growing in the front garden and that seemed to
thrive there and not be bothered by the severest of frosts.

It seems to me that some plants can adapt to quite harsh conditions even
though in their native lands they may not ever experience such things.
________________
Nick G
Otter Valley, Devon
83 m amsl
http://www.ottervalley.co.uk

Graham

After doing a bit of googling, it seems that there is only one species of
cabbage tree, the Cordyline australis. It goes by a multitude of names such
as Torbay Palm, Cabbage Palm, Cornish Palm, Ti Kouka, Grass Palm, Cabbage
Tree, but they are all the same tree.

It does have varieties which have been cultivated over time to give
different colours such as the Torbay Sparkler, Red Star & Sundance.

Younger, less established plants can be damaged by severe frost (-10C)but
older trees are fully hardy and apparently will grow just about anywhere in
the UK and are now a popular tree used by councils to brighten up many a
town centre. I know Birmingham Uni have them growing in their grounds.

I remember somebody telling me once that they were originally planted in
coastal regions, not because of the milder climate but it was because of the
tree's tolerance to wind and salt-spray damage.
________________
Nick G
Otter Valley, Devon
83 m amsl
http://www.ottervalley.co.uk

Nick Gardner wrote:

Graham

After doing a bit of googling, it seems that there is only one
species of cabbage tree, the Cordyline australis. It goes by a
multitude of names such as Torbay Palm, Cabbage Palm, Cornish Palm,
Ti Kouka, Grass Palm, Cabbage Tree, but they are all the same tree.

It does have varieties which have been cultivated over time to give
different colours such as the Torbay Sparkler, Red Star & Sundance.

Younger, less established plants can be damaged by severe frost
(-10C)but older trees are fully hardy and apparently will grow just
about anywhere in the UK and are now a popular tree used by councils
to brighten up many a town centre. I know Birmingham Uni have them
growing in their grounds.

I remember somebody telling me once that they were originally planted
in coastal regions, not because of the milder climate but it was
because of the tree's tolerance to wind and salt-spray damage.
________________ Nick G Otter Valley, Devon
83 m amsl
http://www.ottervalley.co.uk

Judging from where they are commonly seen in Scotland they must be very
tolerant to wind and salt spray. In those same areas very low
temperatures (below -4c) are very unusual. Hot dry conditions are also
very unusual.

Norman.
--
Norman Lynagh
Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire
85m a.s.l.
(remove "thisbit" twice to e-mail)

On Tue, 5 Feb 2008 01:16:35 -0800 (PST), Graham Easterling wrote:

I stand corrected :-)

Norman

The Cornish Palm (Cordyline australis) may not strictly speaking be a
palm, but is almost universally regarded as one. The last really cold
spell ('87 I think) killed a lot, and even the -4.5C in Jan '97 killed
some off. They are susceptible to being killed by ice crystals, even
at -2 or -3.
This variety certainly grows in western Scotaland.

The cabbage tree is supposed to be hardier.

The Eden web page on the Cornish palm and asssociated varieties.
www.cornishoasis.com/detail.aspx?p=342&s=59

Graham
Penzance

The RHS guide to garden plants describes them as being hardy down to -5C.

Alan

St Albans

"Alan Gardiner" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 5 Feb 2008 01:16:35 -0800 (PST), Graham Easterling wrote:

I stand corrected :-)

Norman

The Cornish Palm (Cordyline australis) may not strictly speaking be a
palm, but is almost universally regarded as one. The last really cold
spell ('87 I think) killed a lot, and even the -4.5C in Jan '97 killed
some off. They are susceptible to being killed by ice crystals, even
at -2 or -3.
This variety certainly grows in western Scotaland.

The cabbage tree is supposed to be hardier.

The Eden web page on the Cornish palm and asssociated varieties.
www.cornishoasis.com/detail.aspx?p=342&s=59

Graham
Penzance

The RHS guide to garden plants describes them as being hardy down to -5C.

Alan

St Albans

They are a native of New Zealand. Australis means Southern, hence the name
Cordyline Australis. They are found throughout NZ, both inland and near the
sea and they are commonly known there as cabbage trees. In NZ they form
much larger, multiheaded examples than they do here. They are also quite
common in Ireland.

Regards

Steve Thomas
(Another native of New Zealand)

In NZ they form much larger, multiheaded examples than they do here. *

Have you been to Cornwall? This palm www.easterling.freeserve.co.uk/PzPalm.html
is in the garden of my old house. There are some bigger than that
around Penzance, but this one had spectacular flowers.

Graham
Penzance

"Graham Easterling" wrote in message
...
In NZ they form much larger, multiheaded examples than they do here.

Have you been to Cornwall? This palm
www.easterling.freeserve.co.uk/PzPalm.html
is in the garden of my old house. There are some bigger than that
around Penzance, but this one had spectacular flowers.

Graham
Penzance



That is a lovely example Graham.

Yes, I have been to Cornwall many times - the Thomas family emigrated from
Cornwall to NZ in 1861 - tin miners from the Caradon hill area.

Short, sharp thunderstorm here (Reading) at 8.25pm.

Steve Thomas