Anyone know how easily Vanuatu is propagated? I have a very nice tallish (1.5 m) thick one with a nice, wide, big head that I want to chop up so I can at last plant out a group in the garden as a feature. Is it as easy as the others? Just I only have the one and wasn't sure. It's been fast growing I must say and I like the thick dead straight stem. One of my favourites, not just for the colour but the shape of the whole thing, very neat and architectural, like a giant black rose. A group of three in various heights would look lovely.
I did purchase another Vanuatu in Bangkok last week but it's tiny, very cute. I will get some photos up as I bought some very nice cordylines including a beautiful silvery "Pink Diamond" (least thats what I think it is) with wide white creamy edges and shocking pink petiole,, plus "black magic", "strawberries on fire" (the only ones with known names, from Australia apparently) also what I assume is known as "earthquake", except its not so horribly contorted as the ones I've seen pictured but rather attractively curly instead (like red sea weed) which I like. Some Thai varieties/cultivars new to science, one which looks very much like what I imagine "lemon and lime" to be except it has a pinky white border and whitish petiole rounder spoon leaves.....What I love about the Thais is that they always also manage to source interesting plants from around the world. When I fall for something on the net inevitably it makes an appearance there. Also got a very nice large upright leaved one in black and red streaks from Singapore which I've never seen before, Im told it's used for cut foliage there, also a beautiful very long narrow curly edged upright leaf one, reddish maroon with a bright reddish petiole, looks to be a large grower, bit like a large "dragons breath". I go for the shape as the variety in form is quite fantastic in cordylines, my wish list is certainly extensive.
I've noticed cordylines on some Hawaii growers have odd sort of bumpy crinkled leaves. I say odd because at first I thought it was the varieties, intended especially the larger leaved varieties. However when I saw "Vanuatu" with the same "oddness" I started wondering as mine doesn't have that, its leaves look like perfectly arranged rose petals, not lumpy and bumpy. Anyone know what causes that? Im thinking some kind of trace element overdose in the soil....not sure, or could it be drought, didn't think possible on Hawaii.......
