Kingdom: Plants
(Unranked): Angiosperms
Order: Asparagales
Family: Laxmanniaceae
Genus: Cordyline
Species: C. australis
Scientific name: Cordyline australis
Variety name: Cordyline australis 'Karo Kiri'
Common name: Cordyline 'Karo Kiri'
Cordyline 'Karo Kiri' is a unique dwarf New Zealand cabbage tree and was formally described and named C. australis 'Karo Kiri' (Heenan et al. 1994). It was granted New Zealand plant variety rights in 1993. PVR number: 782.
This variation of C. australis was discovered in 1983 by Mr Trevor Bayliss, a nurseryman, Belfast, Christchurch
It is characterised by very short rigid leaves with distinct yellow midribs on their lower sides. Normally the growth is monopodial and the trunk will continue to elongate to a point where it no longer holds itself erect. Dead leaves accumulate along the trunk. Gardeners usually remove the dead basal leaves to create an interesting miniature palm effect. If the tree grows too tall the stem is cut to the desired height and new shoots will sprout.
Cordyline australis 'Karo Kiri' is now sold by nurseries.
Photographs below is a mature tree growing in Otari Wiltons Bush Reserve, Wellington. NB the dead basal leaves have not been removed.
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
