kathy, be on the watch for wilt. When I lived in the Philadelphia area (very similar climates & soils, but slightly cooler) I planted a rugosa hedge which was glorious, and then a vascular wilt killed them. I suspect it was something like a Phytophthora infection, but I never had it checked out by a lab. I also didn't want to use fungicides on it. It's possible a soil drench would've saved them, but I wanted them because I thought they were going to require very little care. Not so, not in that climate and soil (also not a sandy one). My impression is that they sulk in hot sticky summer weather. They're ubiquitous up here in the Boston area and they grow quite nicely here.

Hey Katob, I looked at Wal-Mart and they only have the Burgundy and Pink and green Cordylines and I decided to only get a fully green one that would be Cordyline Australis. I have seen that they are the hardiest Cordy. I think the others are 40-50 F at the lowest, and, I am not sure about heating my greenhouse. I am thinking of using a small shelter in the greenhouse and adding heat with lights or a small heater, BUT, I don't want to get anything too tender/tropical also. At least with the Windmill palm baby that I have IF I can keep it in a zone 7b to 8a, it should be fine, and the desert plants are all hardy to zone 5-6. I've got a Cholla tree, Yucca Rostrata, Agaves Parryi and an Agave Neomexicana X ??? I forget the hybrid that is mixed with the Neomexicana Agave. I've had my last Rostrata get too much rain last growing season, so, I have them staying in the greenhouse. I have a Yucca Recurvifolia and another Yucca with the big more fleshy leaves growing in a raised bed with mostly a gritty mix, they are fine despite too much rain. I may need to eventually move my Cholla tree to an in-ground bed, possibly the same bed with the Yucca's I see on the plant tag that it gets about 5 ft wide and even taller. For now, it will be in a medium sized pot. I am kinda wondering about how much to water my Yucca Rostrata. The soil is well draining, BUT, I wonder how moist to keep it. I guess dryish. I used mostly "palm and cactus" soil The Miricle grow stuff. My other stuff is grit, perlite and the bagged Palm and Cactus soil. The Wm that had the Burgundy Cordyline also had one that was green, but, not a normal average green, it was NOT Australis, though. I want another Australis, I may go to Ebay and look. Our Big box stores don't have much to pick from now.

They grow very easily from cuttings so you shouldn't have any problems. I sometimes have 'animal problems' but it's usually from the tops being chewed.

Greencroc, You have generated a most interesting and varied discussion on one of my favorite subjects. I have been growing Cordylines for several years, a few Aust. natives and about 300 fruticosa varieties and have a different favorite each week. They love fertilizer and your application seems fine.I use Organic Xtra and Seasol mixed with Fungicide as foliar spray, kills 2 birds with one stone. I now have the CD that Andrew & Silvercargo mentioned. The photos are magnificent and infomation invaluable. I got mine through "The International Tropical Foliage and Garden Society". I have noticed that my Cordylines are still producing Winter coloured leaves, most unusual for this time of year. Is it just mine or are they doing it all over? Reg.