Other Names:  False Dracaena

Description:

An upright shrub or small tree with long, paddle shaped, light green leaves with flat midribs and arching tips; spectacular when massed on the landscape; perfect for adding a lush, tropical feel to the garden or indoors

Ornamental Features

Forest Cabbage Tree is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its ornamental upright and spreading habit of growth. Its attractive sword-like leaves remain light green in color with showy dark green variegation throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Forest Cabbage Tree is an open multi-stemmed annual with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other garden plants with finer foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should never be pruned except to remove any dieback, as it tends not to take pruning well. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Forest Cabbage Tree is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Forest Cabbage Tree will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. Although it's not a true annual, this plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant performs well in both full sun and full shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.

Forest Cabbage Tree is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.