Plant Library

Other Names:  Mountain Palm, Blue dracaena, Toi

Description:

An interesting palm like tree that will form a small single trunk over time; features very large, glossy, strap-shaped leaves; panicles of small, pale green to maroon flowers in late spring; container plants rarely flower; an excellent tropical look

Ornamental Features

Mountain Cabbage Tree features dainty panicles of fragrant light green round flowers with burgundy overtones and chartreuse eyes hanging below the branches from late spring to early summer. It has attractive bluish-green evergreen foliage. The large glossy sword-like leaves are highly ornamental and remain bluish-green throughout the winter. The smooth gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Mountain Cabbage Tree is an evergreen tropical plant with a strong central leader and an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tropical plant, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Mountain Cabbage Tree is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

This plant is native to the tropics and prefers growing in moist environments with evenly warm conditions all year round. In our climate, it is usually grown as an outdoor annual in the garden or in a container. If you want it to survive the winter, it can be brought in to the house and provided with special care, and then returned to the garden the following season. In its preferred tropical habitat, as a tree it can grow to be around 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. However, when grown as an annual or when overwintered indoors, it can be expected to perform quite differently, and its exact height and spread will depend on many factors; you may wish to consult with our experts as to how it might perform in your specific application and growing conditions.

This tropical plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. 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.

Mountain Cabbage Tree is a fine choice for the yard, 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 grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.