No, not a post about Cabbages, nor a post about what the Walrus said “of cabbages and kings”, but a post about our Cabbage Trees. Ti Kouka in Maori, Cordyline Australis in Latin, a tree so common in New Zealand that it is easily taken for granted and overlooked.
We have at least two of these trees in our garden now and as I have sat sniffling and snuffling over the past four days I have noticed flower heads emerging from our trees.
I learnt from Ruth here that Cabbage Tree flowers have a beautiful scent and on that calm afternoon on Thursday I could just smell a delicate perfume when I was out near the larger of the two trees.
Keruru, New Zealand’s native wood pigeon love the flowers and seeds of these trees so I am pleased to extend our bird resort facilities further with the sight of an abundant flowering about to happen.
I was further surprised to peer over the supermarket car park wall and spot this stunning sight. It is rare to look down into the head of a cabbage tree as they stand very tall, very quickly but here was a gem to cheer me on.
There is quite a line-up of cabbage trees below this wall and they offered me various photos of flower heads emerging and flowers blooming.
Unfortunately any scent was being blown away in the spring winds. Like many of our native trees this flowering season is looking to be a boomer.
ordinarygoodness 
They are beautiful (and thankfully these would enhance the car park). They do have a sweet fragrance but I am a little wary of them because I think they make me sneeze. They shouldn’t because they are a low allergen plant but I think they do 😦
I’ve known that the trees were there but to see so many flower heads emerging was a very pleasant surprise.
Allergies are testing aren’t they?
Very, but I seem to have managed September without too much trouble this year. Fingers crossed!
I react to the Wattles and Pine trees in August:-( I hope you keep ahead of the pollens.
Me too. I have my stock of antihistamines at the ready, just in case.
Nice shots Lynley. I’m always glad to see the cabbage trees in flower.
Thank you Juliet. It was fun to stand above the trees. There seems to be a very full bloom happening. Cabbage trees are a little slack on shedding the old seed heads though!
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