Stricta Cordyline

Stricta Cordyline (Cordyline stricta) is the screen for a space too narrow for anything else. Slim upright canes carry dark green strappy leaves to about 3m tall while the clump stays around 1m wide, so it fits a garden bed barely wider than a footpath. Sprays of small purple flowers appear in spring, followed by dark berries that birds work through. Planted 60cm apart it closes into a soft green wall within two seasons.

Why you'll love it

• Tall and genuinely narrow. Roughly 3m by 1m, so it screens a fence line without stealing a metre of garden.
• It screens in shade. Most privacy plants thin in low light. This rainforest understorey native holds its foliage in a shaded side passage.
• A native that feeds birds. Purple spring flowers give way to dark berries, and small birds shelter in the canes.
• Easy to control. Cut any cane at any height and it reshoots below the cut, so height is a decision.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 60cm apart for a dense narrow screen. A single row covers a side boundary; a staggered double row at the same spacing thickens a wider gap.

Balconies, courtyards and pots. The upright habit and modest root system suit a large pot, where it gives height without spreading over the paving.

Mass planting. At 60cm centres in drifts beneath taller palms, it fills the middle layer most gardens miss.

One caution. Cordyline foliage contains saponins, so this is not a pet safe plant. Keep it away from dogs that chew leaves.

Growing Stricta Cordyline in Australia

Position and climate. Partial shade is ideal, and full sun works with steady water, though the leaves pale in hard afternoon sun. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens and takes humidity well. It handles light frost only, so in frosty inland or southern gardens grow it in a pot under eaves.

Soil. Free draining soil improved with compost. It is not fussy, but will not sit in waterlogged ground. Mulch 75mm deep, clear of the canes.

Water and feed. Water twice weekly through the first summer, after which it is drought tolerant and copes with a missed week. A slow release fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer keeps the foliage dark.

Pruning. Cut leggy canes back to 30cm or 1m in spring and they shoot again from below. Staggering the cuts across a row keeps the screen full while individual canes rebuild.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 140mm as a pack of ten, 200mm as a pack of six, and 300mm as single plants. The 140mm and 200mm packs are the value choice for a long boundary, usually single caned and knee high. A 300mm plant is taller and often branching, which suits a pot or a short run.

Cordylines travel well, though a few marked outer leaves are normal and grow out quickly. Expect visible new growth within four to six weeks in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, with a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to use cordylines in a garden design
• Browse the full cordyline range
• Compare tall and narrow screening plants
• Plants that suit balconies and courtyards

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Sixty centimetres apart in a single row. The clump only widens to about 1m, and closer spacing crowds the canes without closing the screen faster.

Will it grow in full shade?

It handles deeper shade than most screening plants, but growth slows and the canes stretch. Partial shade with morning sun gives the best result.

How do I fix a leggy plant with bare stems?

Cut the cane back hard in spring, as low as 30cm. It reshoots from dormant buds below the cut and comes back thicker.

Is it safe around pets?

No. The leaves contain saponins, which cause vomiting and drooling in dogs and cats that chew them. Choose a different screen if your pet grazes on foliage.