Quote:
Originally Posted by Spider[_2_]
The plant in your picture looks like a Cordyline australis and, in truth, it
looks very healthy to me. The *slightly* paler new leaves, I suspect, will
darken as they receive sunlight for longer. They just need to
photosynthesise, which means the plant uses sunlight to feed itself
(chlorophyll in the leaves process sunlight and turns it into sugars which,
in turn, feed the plant).
The older leaves don't look that bad to me. Yes, there is some minor
damage, but it is usual with Cordyline to cut away the old, tatty leaves,
leaving a textured stem as it ages. Put up with them a little longer, if
you can, as they are still green and feeding the plant.
In winter, I loosely tie up the leaves of my Cordyline so the rain doesn't
get into the centre of the plant and rot the crown. I learnt this the hard
way, having nearly lost the plant in its first winter.
Hope this helps.
Spider
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I really think this one isn't Cordyline australis either. If you look at the way the leaves attach to the cane, and compare that with a Cordyline, I think you must agree that they just aren't attached like those on a Cordyline. Also the leaves seem fleshier than a cordyline. I think this could be another Dracaena, as they tend to get leaves splitting like that. It happens when you get a period of vigorous growth after and earlier period of less vigorous growth. But I'm not sure, as there are plenty of other cane-forming plants with strap-like leaves, yuccas, beschornerias, furcraeas, nolinas, etc, and they are very confusing to distinguish to a non-expert like me.
Tying up the leaves on a Cordyline in the winter is really only if you get temperatures below about minus 5 C. Also, they are less hardy when they are young. Mine shrugged off minus 9 this winter, even a Torbay Red which is less hardy than the species, and I didn't tie them up, but they are well established.