Credit: David Foley
Cordyline obtecta
Background and story
The Broad-leaved Cabbage Tree (Cordyline obtecta, often still referred to as Cordyline baueri) is an evergreen, palm-like plant native to Norfolk Island, New Zealand and parts of eastern Australia, where it grows in coastal and lowland forest habitats.
Its history in cultivation is closely tied to the movement of southern hemisphere plants into European gardens, and it has long been grown alongside other cordylines for its distinctive foliage.
Historically treated as a separate species, Cordyline baueri is now generally included within C. obtecta, though the older name persists in horticulture, often applied to forms with broader, glossier leaves and a more overtly lush, tropical appearance than the narrower-leaved Cordyline australis.
Did you know?
Its classification has changed repeatedly. Over time it has been placed in different genera (including Dracaena and Terminalis) and only later stabilised as Cordyline, illustrating how monocot “tree” plants have been historically difficult to classify.
Hardiness and conservation
The IUCN Red List status recorded here is Near Threatened (NT). This means it is not currently classed as threatened, but is close to qualifying for a threatened category. The assessment year recorded in the plant data is 2025.
Additional notes for Ireland and Britain
In Ireland and Britain, Cordyline obtecta is moderately hardy but more tender than C. australis, performing best in mild, sheltered coastal and urban gardens. It prefers free-draining soil, full sun or light shade, and protection from cold winds, which can damage its broader leaves. Typically reaching 4–8 metres in favourable conditions, it forms a neat, upright small tree with a fuller crown than its hardier relative. While it can tolerate light frost, it is more vulnerable to colder winters and may suffer setbacks in exposed or inland sites. It is best used as a specimen or structural plant where a softer, more tropical effect is desired.
From a conservation and hardiness perspective, on Norfolk Island many populations of C. obtecta are threatened outside the national park, and it is listed as 'vulnerable' under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. In terms of hardiness, it tolerates light to moderate frost (typically around −5°C to −7°C in favourable conditions), though this can vary depending on provenance and siting. Its main limitation in Irish conditions is exposure and cold wind, particularly in combination with winter wet, rather than temperature alone. In an Irish context, it is best regarded as a slightly more refined but less robust alternative to Cordyline australis, requiring careful placement to perform at its best.
Notable features
- It has a long history of botanical confusion. For many years, plants in cultivation were known as Cordyline baueri, but this name is now considered a synonym or misapplied name for Cordyline obtecta.
- Its foliage sets it apart from the common cabbage tree. Compared to Cordyline australis, this species has broader, softer, more tropical-looking leaves, typically 35–100 cm long and noticeably wider, giving a very different visual effect
- It is naturally rare and locally vulnerable in the wild. Populations on Norfolk Island are relatively small and have been listed as vulnerable, highlighting a contrast between its rarity in nature and desirability in cultivation.
- It occupies a narrow ecological niche. In the wild it is mostly confined to coastal forests, cliffs, and sheltered island habitats, reflecting its need for mild, humid conditions and helping explain its marginal hardiness in Ireland and Britain.
Earlscliffe notes
We have a number of Cordyline baueri growing at Earlscliffe. Each as survived the few severe winters we have had over the last 25 years.