A stunning purple-leaved form of New Zealand’s iconic Cabbage Tree, prized for its rich bronze to deep purple foliage and bold architectural form. Purple Cabbage Tree adds year-round colour and structure to native and contemporary landscapes while retaining the exceptional toughness and adaptability of the species.
🌱 Plant Facts
• Growth habit: Tall evergreen tree with a stout trunk that branches with age
• Foliage: Long, sword-shaped bronze to deep purple leaves
• Leaves: Up to 1 m long
• Bark: Grey and rough with old leaves often forming a skirt beneath the crown
• Flowers: Large sprays of fragrant white flowers
• Fruit: Small white berries favoured by kererū and other native birds
• Height: Up to 20 m
🌍 Natural Habitat
• Derived from the naturally widespread Cordyline australis, which occurs from coastal to montane forest
• Common along riparian forests, river terraces, forest margins, wetlands and open country
• Most abundant from sea level to around 600 m
🌿 Growing Environment
• Full sun to partial shade
• Frost tolerant
• Drought tolerant once established
• Wetland tolerant
• Wind tolerant
• Coastal tolerant
• Salt tolerant
Performs best in full sun where the foliage develops its richest purple and bronze colouring. Adaptable to a wide range of soil types and moisture conditions, making it an excellent feature tree for almost any landscape.
📍 Distribution
• A cultivated purple selection of the New Zealand native Cordyline australis
• Suitable for planting throughout New Zealand
🌾 Uses
• Native bird food and attractant
• Bee food
• Feature tree
• Riparian plantings
• Native forest restoration
• Pioneer plantings
• Shelterbelts
• Coastal and contemporary landscapes
🪴 Cultivation Notes (Live Plant)
A hardy and easy-care ornamental tree that combines the resilience of the native Cabbage Tree with striking coloured foliage. It establishes readily and tolerates a wide variety of growing conditions, including exposed coastal sites, wetlands, and urban gardens. Excellent for creating year-round colour and architectural structure, while also providing valuable habitat and seasonal food for native wildlife.
📏 Approximate product size:
• PB3/4 (5–20 cm, 350 ml)
• PB3 (20–70 cm, 1.5 L)
• PB8 (50 cm+, 3.5 L)
• PB18 (1 m+, 8.5 L)
• PB40 (2 m+, 18.5 L)
⏱️ Timeframe:
We ship Monday – Wednesday for South Island customers and Monday/Tuesday for Rural and North Island customers. Orders placed outside these days will be fulfilled the following week.
📦 Local pick ups and/or deliveries will be made by arrangement.
🌱 We’ll donate $1 per plant sold to national conservation efforts, helping to protect and restore New Zealand’s natural heritage.
A stunning purple-leaved form of New Zealand’s iconic Cabbage Tree, prized for its rich bronze to deep purple foliage and bold architectural form. Purple Cabbage Tree adds year-round colour and structure to native and contemporary landscapes while retaining the exceptional toughness and adaptability of the species.
🌱 Plant Facts
• Growth habit: Tall evergreen tree with a stout trunk that branches with age
• Foliage: Long, sword-shaped bronze to deep purple leaves
• Leaves: Up to 1 m long
• Bark: Grey and rough with old leaves often forming a skirt beneath the crown
• Flowers: Large sprays of fragrant white flowers
• Fruit: Small white berries favoured by kererū and other native birds
• Height: Up to 20 m
🌍 Natural Habitat
• Derived from the naturally widespread Cordyline australis, which occurs from coastal to montane forest
• Common along riparian forests, river terraces, forest margins, wetlands and open country
• Most abundant from sea level to around 600 m
🌿 Growing Environment
• Full sun to partial shade
• Frost tolerant
• Drought tolerant once established
• Wetland tolerant
• Wind tolerant
• Coastal tolerant
• Salt tolerant
Performs best in full sun where the foliage develops its richest purple and bronze colouring. Adaptable to a wide range of soil types and moisture conditions, making it an excellent feature tree for almost any landscape.
📍 Distribution
• A cultivated purple selection of the New Zealand native Cordyline australis
• Suitable for planting throughout New Zealand
🌾 Uses
• Native bird food and attractant
• Bee food
• Feature tree
• Riparian plantings
• Native forest restoration
• Pioneer plantings
• Shelterbelts
• Coastal and contemporary landscapes
🪴 Cultivation Notes (Live Plant)
A hardy and easy-care ornamental tree that combines the resilience of the native Cabbage Tree with striking coloured foliage. It establishes readily and tolerates a wide variety of growing conditions, including exposed coastal sites, wetlands, and urban gardens. Excellent for creating year-round colour and architectural structure, while also providing valuable habitat and seasonal food for native wildlife.
📏 Approximate product size:
• PB3/4 (5–20 cm, 350 ml)
• PB3 (20–70 cm, 1.5 L)
• PB8 (50 cm+, 3.5 L)
• PB18 (1 m+, 8.5 L)
• PB40 (2 m+, 18.5 L)
⏱️ Timeframe:
We ship Monday – Wednesday for South Island customers and Monday/Tuesday for Rural and North Island customers. Orders placed outside these days will be fulfilled the following week.
📦 Local pick ups and/or deliveries will be made by arrangement.
🌱 We’ll donate $1 per plant sold to national conservation efforts, helping to protect and restore New Zealand’s natural heritage.
