Cordyline australis 'Burgundy'

Burgundy Cabbage Tree / Cordyline

Botanical Name: Cordyline australis 'Burgundy'
Family: Asparagaceae
Origin: New Zealand; cultivar selection
Plant Type: Evergreen architectural shrub/small tree

Overview

'Burgundy' is a striking architectural cordyline with bold fountains of deep wine-red, sword-shaped foliage held on an upright trunk. Far hardier than tropical cordylines, C. australis tolerates frost, wind and coastal exposure, making this rich-coloured form a dramatic, low-care feature for SA gardens, courtyards and large containers. Mature plants send up tall panicles of fragrant cream flowers loved by bees and birds.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 3–5 m H x 1–2 m W (slow to reach full height; long-lived as a feature)
• Growth Rate: Moderate; 20–30 cm per year; upright single or multi-trunked habit with arching foliage crown
• Foliage: Long, sword-shaped deep burgundy-red leaves; colour richest in full sun
• Flowers: Tall panicles of small, creamy-white, sweetly fragrant flowers on mature plants; summer
• Seasonal Interest: Bold burgundy foliage year-round; fragrant flower panicles in summer
• Wildlife Value: Fragrant flowers attract bees; birds take the berries that follow
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant once established; frost hardy; coastal and salt-spray tolerant; wind-tolerant; dislikes constantly wet soils
• Planting Density: Feature/specimen: 1.5–2 m apart; mass/row planting: 1–1.5 m apart
• Pet Friendly: Cordyline australis is generally regarded as non-toxic; discourage pets from chewing the strappy leaves to avoid mild stomach upset

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade; deepest leaf colour in full sun
• Soil: Free-draining loam, sandy or clay-loam soils; tolerates a wide range; avoid permanently wet sites
• Water Needs: Establishment: deep soak twice weekly for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 2–3 weeks in summer; rarely in winter — drought tolerant once established.
• Maintenance: Very low; remove spent lower leaves to keep the trunk tidy; cut back leggy specimens to encourage branching; light feeding in spring
• Lifespan: 20–40+ years
• Climate Zones: Suited to all SA regions — metro, Hills, coastal (including exposed sites) and inland
• Soil pH: Adaptable; slightly acidic to alkaline (pH 6.0–7.5)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Bold vertical feature and focal point in beds and courtyards
• Dramatic container plant for entries, patios and pool surrounds
• Burgundy contrast against silver, lime or green foliage in modern and coastal gardens

Why You Will Love It

'Burgundy' delivers instant architectural drama and rich, year-round colour from one of the toughest feature plants you can grow — frost-, wind- and coastal-hardy, yet as striking in a contemporary courtyard as it is in a seaside garden.