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Products > Cordyline australis 'Sundance'
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| Category: Tree |
| Family: Dracaenaceae (~Agaveaceae) |
| Origin: New Zealand (Australasia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: White |
| Bloomtime: Spring |
| Fragrant Flowers: Yes |
| Height: 20-30 feet |
| Width: 8-10 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 10-15° F |
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Cordyline australis 'Sundance' (Green and Red Grass Palm) - This is a palm-like, sub-tropical tree that grows with an upright habit and with age will branch to produce several heads of deep green sword-like strap leaves that have a very thin stripe of pink down the midrib and along the leaf's base. Like the other colorful Cordyline australis cultivars this plant should grow to be a branched 10 to 20 foot tall by 5 to 10 foot wide evergreen tree and produces large panicles of small, sweet-scented flowers in late spring to summer. Best in full coastal sun to light shade - some shade protection necessary in hotter inland gardens. It is drought tolerant in coastal gardens but responds well to occasional to regular irrigation. Useful in dry gardens but also offers a tropical look. A great container plant. It can tolerate coastal conditions if protected from direct sea winds (Zone 2) . It is hardy to around 15° F, growing well in USDA zones 9-10 (and possibly warmer Zone 8 locations). We have several large specimen plants of Sundance growing in fairly deep shade within our nursery garden, with the largest about 12 feet tall. We originally received this plant in 1993 from Twyford Laboratories and have continued to grow it ever since. It appears that the names 'Purple Heart' and possibly 'Sunset' have also been used for this plant and there has been some speculation that this plant is the same as Cordyline australis var veitchii, a plant described as early as 1902 in L.H. Baily's 1902 edition of "Cyclopedia of American Horticulture". The description from this book of a plant having the "base of leaf and underside of midrib bright crimson" is very similar to that of 'Sundance'.
The information on this page is based on research conducted in our nursery library and from online sources as well as from observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in the nursery's garden and in other gardens that we have observed it in. We also will incorporate comments received from others and always appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have additional information, particularly if this information is contrary to what we have written or includes additional cultural tips that might aid others in growing Cordyline australis 'Sundance'.
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