Weak/Messy Cordyline Australis - HELP!

Hi Everyone,

It's my first ever post, so please go easy on this newbie gardener :(
I've recently bought a cordyline (Approx 1.9mtrs height & 1.5m spread).
This as you can see from below photo, is pretty large and overwhelming:



The problem is that unlike most cordyline plants which have stiff spikey leaves, this one's leaves are dropping down like an umbrella and are extremely weak.

I don't like it at all and was wondering what I can do to reshape the plant, so that it looks more spiky like this:




Thanks very much for your help.

 

Hello newgardener.....welcome

This is the nature of the beast Im afraid . It will develop as you want it too......the lower leaves drop off . As they yellow you can cut them off....pull them off with a downward tug.

 

Probably been grown soft undercover, so the leaves are not used to outdoor forces, wind rain etc.
Give it time, it will produce stronger leaves.
Dont cut any leaves off just yet though, probably a job for next year.

 

Thanks for your help guys. I'm afraid, I'd rather move it elsewhere.

Can you guys please help me as I'm not happy with this cordyline and want to replace it with a more vibrant grand plant which is very colourful and stands out from the crowd.

Can anyone please make any suggestions? FYI, the planter box size is 1m by 1m.

Thanks everyone.

 

Well you could try the coloured ones, but bear in mind they are not so hardy.
You could try one of the coloured leaf Phormiums if you still want a spiky plant.

 

Ha ha Pete, I was about to suggest a Phormium too. , I would go for Dazzler.....a medium vigour variety with the most colourful (maroon red) leaves. Sundowner is another beauty but taller

 

Thanks very much for your recommendations guys. What if I decided against any of these plants which have that spiky effect....any others?

 

Well, I kind of like dwarf pines, cant recommend any, but might be worth a try.
I have a bristlecone pine that grows very slowly, about 25yrs old and still only 4ft high growing in the ground.
But there must be others, with a bit of research.

 

Libertia taupo Sunset, eucomis dark star, stipa tennuissima (prob most tactile of the grasses), hordeum jubatum ( reflects and radiates purples, creams, pinks, etc., if placed in the sun)
In a container...ok, not spikey....convolvulous cneorum is spectacular; silver evergreen mounding foliage topped with pure white flowers in summer. Nice planted with ophiopogon nigrescens.

 

Guys, thank you so much for the recommendations, which certainly are food for thought. Good news is that I've managed to give the cordyline back to the store and get a refund....Now I can take my time in choosing a nice plant feature, possibly going for one of your recommendations

BTW, what do you think of the Acer Purpureum???

 

Lovely plant newgardner

Thought you wanted something "spikey". However the acer is a fabulous plant in a pot if in the right place and in good soil. Part shade and john innes ericaceous soil are required

 

Thanks Verdun.

To be honest I just want a nice feature plant which provides that WOW! factor.

I already have an acer. But it's still young and limping over a bit. Any advice on how to grow it faster?

 

Ha ha newgardener.....you sound like my nephew
Always best to grow plants without being forced. You will then have excellent quality with the WOW factor.
Plants overfed tend to become weak and susceptible to pests and diseases
Your acer? Where is it? In full sun or shade? In a pot or in the ground?
Give it what it needs and it will respond. Acers are relatively slow but not that slow.....in a couple of years you may be surprised at how much it had grown.
Patience newgardener......something I basically lack but accept it is an essential factor in gardening

 

Haha, I'm very similar to you and your nephew and I'm certainly impatient.

The Acer is currently in a medium-sized plant pot. It's in full afternoon sun. It's given water every 2-3 days.

I don't mind waiting, but I don't think I can wait for a number of years before seeing the results.

What trees can you think of which don't grow more than 2 metres, but flower a lot or have dazzling colours during spring/summer time?

 

I would still go for an acer.......looks classy from spring to autumn. You could plant winter bulbs like snowdrops with it to give you colour at that time
It will need to be placed out of the sun.....that's why it is wilting.