How tall/old is the plant. sometimes if they are cut of at the base they will regenerate.
Heather

Hey Heather you are prompt at replying! Many thanks.
How old/big is the Cordyline, you ask? Don't know...I haven't found one yet. I'm asking around friends & contacts, and have placed an ad in the newspaper to the effect that I am after an unwanted Cordyline. There are quiet a few around my area that are in poor condition and look very unloved. What should I go for? As I'm concerned the bigger the better. I have the space (8 Ha)! How well do the big ones transplant? Hence the reason for my question about how hard they can be pruned. You said 'sometimes' they regenerate. Should some leaf material be left on the plant? Do you aim for a minimum of 30cm radius rootball around the trunk? (like a palm). Thanks.
Frank

Insignis, I hate to throw cold water on your intentions, but Cordyline have a large, downward growing central taproot. You would need to get this out pretty much intact to enable the tree to survive in it's new possie. Maybe aiming at moving a smaller tree might be more realistic...?
Mutzi

As Mutzi says go for a smaller plant, would grow better in a good location and kept moist it will quickly grow into a large specimum that drops leaves like crazy that you have to clear up before you mow or else you will jam up the mower. :-))
Heather

Thanks for the advice Heather & Mutzi. Well I've found one that seems ideal! It is healthy, 3m tall, multi-headed, with a nice flared trunk (approx 30cm at base, but tapering fairly quickly).

Mutzi, you mention a large downward taproot. This must be unusual for a monocot. They tend to have a mass of fibrous root. I've always found monocots an easier/simpler proposition to transplant and subsequently survive the move. I've transplanted Yucca before, and discovered what I would almost describe as a subterranean trunk (like a Cycad) with fibrous roots originating from several points. Is this what you are referring to in the Cordyline?

Heather, thanks for the warning about leaves on the lawn. I HATE lawn, so the Cordyline can drop as much as it wants, whenever it wants. It will be yet another reason to inform my wife that further sections of existing lawn have to go. Fantastic!

So should I reduce the number of leaves? (always a controversial topic- some insist on it while others state that this improves re-growth). I provide good after-care to all transplants (never lost one, inc. 5m Phoenix canariensis), and will treat the pruned rootball with hormone/vitamin and spray foliage with an anti-transpirant. Any additional advice appreciated. Thanks.

Frank

Hi Frank,
Cordyline aust. has a large rhizome, apparently a food storage organ, that grows directly down-wards. The underground rizome of the plant is equal to at least 25 percent of the whole biomass. So a three metre tree will have quite a large rhizome underneath it! Maybe a cabbage tree can be t/planted with a smaller part of the rhizome intact, in much the same way as a dahlia can be - but this is speculation on my part. The feeder roots of cabbage trees don't much like to be disturbed. Last year, I managed to kill a favourite by removing, (with care!) a large plant that was outgrowing the cabbage tree; but apparently, I should have simply cut the compeditor off at the base and not disturbed the cabbage tree roots at all! I have read that the small side shoots of cordyline can be removed and planted up, if their after care is good. As far as removing leaves goes, I would tend to remove some, and encourage the plant to put energy into root growth, rather than leaf maintenance.
Hope this is of help.
Good luck!
Mutzi

Hey Mutzi
Thanks again for the information. The large rhizome you describe is just like a Yucca. I moved a 1.5m Y. gloriosa a few months ago and it had a huge rhizome...perhaps around 25% of the biomass. Maybe not so surprising as both Yucca and Cordyline are in the same family. So I know what to expect with the Cordyline. I'll take photographs before, during, and after the move and post a few to this site.

BTW how big was the Cordyline that you lost? What time of year did you disturb the feeder roots?
Frank

I grow cordylines and found the information here very interesting. I move my C. fruiticosas successfully and have also moved my Australian native ones successfully, but I think I will leave my C. australis where it is.

Hi Frank,
The tree I lost was about 2.5 metres high and was just begining to "take off" It was about 4 years old and was admittedly not in an ideal situation, as it was largely shaded by a 2 storey building during the winter months. It was the centrepoint in an area of flaxes, kowhai and hebe, and one of my best-loved trees. (Sob!) My Man has never been a lover of cabbage trees, although he is begining to see their beauty now, and I originally kind of smuggled it into the garden, disguised as a flax! The plant that was outgrowing it was one of those self-seeded and hellava fast growing Himalayan Honeysuckles,(Leycesteria formosa)(aka Partridge Berry, Elisha's Tears, Flowering Nutmeg) I quite like these shrubs as they are good bird feed, but this one was bang up next to the cordyline. (About 60cm away) Removed it in late summer. Within a few weeks, the previously healthy-looking cordy was looking sad. So I'm guessing that removal was the cause of his demise.
I would be interested to follow up on your progress with this transplant.
Mutzi

Hi there, a bit late I realise but I've only just discovered this website!! I agree that you would be better to look for a younger plant as Cordylines definitely react very badly to being transplanted as said in others responses! A really great tip when planting these is to place a rock on either side of the plant to help hold the root ball in place while it is getting established as this will encourage strong root growth and strong winds have been known to completely take them out of the ground! Hope this helps when you do find your treasure!

I bought a cordyline australis 2 years ago (approx half a meter tall. Its now just over three meters tall. It's got about 11 offshoots growing around the base. I know very little about these plants and was wondering if theres a way I can get the shoots and replant them else where without damaging the large one or the small offshoots. I'm quite new to gardening so could any replies please be easy to follow.

Frank, another idea is to hunt round for a large container grown specimen. C. australis will struggle on in pots rather unhappily for some years, so sometimes nurseries have them out the back, not having gotten around to throwing them out. I have one about 2m tall that's about to shift house with me to a permanent spot. You probably won't have to pay a great deal as older cordylines look pretty sad after a few years in a pot.
good luck,
Douglas

Phlip, I acknowledge what you are saying but I'm still hoping that this Cordyline will survive. It's not so much impatience, as regret that I didn't start earlier. That's why I recently transplanted a 5m Phoenix canariensis! Probably saved me around 20 years.

Zoew, you have an enviable growth rate over there in Wales! My growing season is so short. The transition from the big frosts (-10C) of winter to a hot dry summer happens within weeks. Most Cordylines around here are 10-14 yeras old if they are around 3-4m tall.

Dougal, thanks for the advice. I did actually look for just such a neglected plant in a pot. No luck. Anyway, the move of the garden-grown specimen occurs this weekend. I'll keep people posted.

Frank

Well the Cordyline is safely at home now. Weighing in at nearly 400kg, with a massive subteranean trunk of which nearly all was saved, and standing 3.6m tall. At the moment it's lying on its side. I won't get it in the hole until tomorrow. Pictures to follow. Thanks everyone for advice.
Frank

Will look forward to the pics.
Will they be on the OZ gallery.
Heather

I want to transplant a 2 metre Cordyline thats been in the ground for 2 years now, but I live in the UK. How did yours go insignis?

I found this: "Cordyline australis, particularly older well
established large plants can be rather difficult to transplant as they
resent their root ball being disturbed.

The best chance of
success is to wait until spring, dig a trench about 30cm deep and about
30cm out around the plant, water regularly with a solution of Seasol and
leave it for 2-3 months. If the plant is still looking healthy after
the 2-3 months dig the plant out completely. Try to maintain as much
soil as possible around the root ball, a good watering the day before
digging will help hold the soil together."

I want to move a larger 4meter Red Star..but maybe just cut it at the soil line and replant as a large cutting would be better,easier.

I have a 5ft cordyline that was given to me at 1st it wasn't doing well but now its growing new leaves and it has new shoots growing in the pot the pot is very small almost too small for such a big plant I live in MS zone 7. Is there anyway I can plant it outside right now it's in a flower pot I want to plant it outside but dont want it to die?? If I did plant it outside what are some things I could do in fall/winter to protect it so it wouldn't die!! I havent seen many people with cordylines where I live!!!