Cordyline australis is commonly known as the cabbage tree, an iconic NZ native. It has multiple trunks, and a crown made up of long, bare branches carrying bushy heads of large, grass-like leaves up to a meter long. Early settlers used the young leaves from the centre of these heads as a substitute for cabbage – hence the common name. As the tree matures the lower trunk becomes bare and branches form, giving the distinct tree-like shape. Attractive en-masse, in mixed plantings or as a specimen. Very hardy evergreen. Very old trees will grow to 30m tall, but 10m is a more common height.