PlantFiles: Bauer's Dracaena, Cabbage Palm, Norfolk Island Cabbage Tree
Cordyline obtecta

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Family: Agavaceae (ah-gav-AY-see-ee) (Info)
Genus: Cordyline (kor-di-LY-nee) (Info)
Species: obtecta (ob-TEK-tuh) (Info)

Synonym:Cordyline baueri
Synonym:Dracaena obtecta
Synonym:Terminalis obtecta

One member has or wants this plant for trade.

Category:
Tropicals and Tender Perennials

Height:
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)

Spacing:
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade

Danger:
N/A

Bloom Color:
White/Near White

Bloom Time:
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer

Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Evergreen
Smooth-Textured
Shiny/Glossy-Textured
Leathery-Textured

Other details:
This plant is suitable for growing indoors
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Suitable for growing in containers

Soil pH requirements:
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)

Patent Information:
Non-patented

Propagation Methods:
From softwood cuttings
From seed; stratify if sowing indoors
From seed; sow indoors before last frost

Seed Collecting:
Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds

Profile:

2 positives
No neutrals
No negatives

Gardeners' Notes:

Rating	Author	Comment
Positive	peejay12	On Oct 28, 2011, peejay12 from HELSTON CORNWALL United Kingdom (Zone 9b) wrote: Cordyline baueri (Norfolk Island) and C. kaspar (from Three Kings Island, off Auckland, New Zealand) have both been renamed C. obtecta. The leaves of the wild form are mid-green with a smooth satiny texture, and very broad for their length. This plant makes a much bushier, more freely branching plant than Cordyline australis, and branches are liable to appear anywhere, especially around the base. My two plants have six branches and lots of offsets around the base, but remain stubbornly at 6 feet high. It is not really hardy enough to grow outside in the UK -- even in Cornwall it needs protection in some winters, so far I've got them through nine winters -- two of them unusually severe (-7C). I protected my plants with pillow covers! Get the longest ones available (preferably rot-proof polyester) and drape them over the leaves during frosty weather. Even then, the trunk may get damaged a little. I think my plant may be a variety called 'Green Goddess' -- possibly a hybrid with C. australis, and hardier than the species.
Positive	daryl	On Jun 10, 2006, daryl from vernon, BC (Zone 6a) wrote: Rich Burgundy red (almost copper) sword like leaves with distinctive uniform venation make this an outstanding choice for the landscape.Fragrant white flowers top the stems in the early summer.Great for containers

Regional...

This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:

Laguna Niguel, California
Hendersonville, Tennessee
Houston, Texas

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