Don't know what they are and don't know why they're poorly :-(

Hi All,

My first post on the forum :-) Hello!

I need your help to identify the plants/trees in the enclosed photo. They used to be a rich maroon colour, but now they are looking decidedly aged and to be honest, close to dead!

I would love to learn how to treat them and restore them to their former glory. I look forward to reading your diagnoses!

Thanks :thumb:

rimibar

 

They are a purple leaved form of cordyline australis.

It looks like frost damage, the coloured leaved cultivars are more tender than the green leaved ones.

There is not much you can do, just wait for new growth which should make them look better.

 

Thanks for the response. Another thing is that the vast majority of the leaves are looking decidedly brown and 'wilty'. There are also a lot of snails that inhabit it and enjoy the water caught in between the upwards facing leaves. The plants looked better just after the frosts than they do now. Hence my belief that they're diseased. Any other recommendations?

 

I lot of Cordylines were damaged this year, not just by frost but also the snow.

 

Pull off the dead leaves and the plants will look much better.:gnthb:

 

But only the really dead ones at this stage eh Dai??

Anything thats still doing its job needs to remain even if it does look slightly tatty.:wink:

 

I did say dead, as opposed to nearly dead.:hehe::hehe::gnthb:

 

Sorry was just confirming that.:D

 

Confirmed Pete.:rotfl:

 

I'm glad we got that settled

 

The plant is probably dead by now, anyway.:gnthb:

 

I wish mine looked as tatty as that, I have just the stalk left. But it is sending shoots from the base.

 

Cut the old stem out, it`s not doing anything except rotting.:gnthb:

 

The top I removed when it turned to mush, (which is strange because a second plant in the same bed was not as bad with the snow and frost) the stalk was dry so I left it at the time to see if there was any life in it. The shoots are at the unfolding stage and my plan was to wait until they are fully open remove the stalk and try and pot the individual shoots on into the cold frame.

 

You will never know unless you try.:gnthb: