Cabbage palm
Cordyline australis
Also called Torbay palm and New Zealand cabbage tree
Garden plant · TreesNot a palm at all. H3, so a hard winter cuts it to the ground — and it usually comes back from the base, so do not dig it out until July.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Once a weekWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade, sheltered
- Feed
- Not needed
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Half-hardy — a light frost RHS H3, to -5°C
- Size
- 6 m tall · 3 m across
- Lifecycle
- Tree
- Origin
- New Zealand
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
Affects dogs, cats, horses. Signs: vomiting, drooling, and dilated pupils in cats.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-11.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.