Re: Cordyline 'Red Sensation' and Experimental OIla Use

I would think that the Cordyline will behave similarly
to your experience with Phormiums in your location. 
They are both plants from cooler and balmier New
Zealand that do not have as much tolerance for real
summer heat and drought.  I wouldn't recommend them
for the areas you have in mind, but would instead give
them dappled shade or morning sun only, and at least
periodic deep soakings.

Here along the coast in Sunset zones 17 and 24, both
can more properly be considered full sun plants and
fairly drought tolerant, and survive on once monthly
irrigation if well established, or able to tap into
ground water.


--- "mtnstar@ocsnet.net" <mtnstar@ocsnet.net> wrote:

> 
> Hello all,
> 
> Happy spring&nbsp;to all - hot weather&nbsp;has
> arrived&nbsp;with a vengence.
> 
> I went to the nursery to get some papyrys for a old
> castiron bathtub water garden I have constructed in
> the middle of my
> parking&nbsp;area.&nbsp;&nbsp;(Bathtub was
> previously used to water cows and I didn't want to
> haul it off to the dump - hence the buried water
> garden idea).&nbsp; There was no papyrus at the
> nursery - but there&nbsp;were two&nbsp;Cordyline
> 'Red Sensation' - which called out to me.&nbsp; I
> was wondering if Cordyline 'Red Sensation' can take
> full sun.&nbsp; I have pampered my phormium along
> this past year because they actually need more water
> than the other plants I have in the front yard
> facing west.&nbsp; I don't want to do the same with
> the cordyline in this other full sun area.
> 
> I have&nbsp;several ollas or water jars I
> ordered&nbsp;last year, which&nbsp;I want to
> experiment with as an alternate form of
> watering.&nbsp; Olla&nbsp;is an&nbsp;adaptation of
> an old Spanish piece of unglazed
> pottery&nbsp;which&nbsp;is&nbsp;buried next to a
> plant needing water during long hot spells and
> limited water resources.&nbsp; See link re info in
> this technique
> http://spectre.nmsu.edu/media/news2.lasso?i=738.
> 
> I got these ollas from a New Mexico ministry which
> employes Native Americans to produce these
> adaptations of&nbsp;ancient&nbsp;irrigation
> containers.&nbsp;&nbsp;I am hoping to experiment
> with&nbsp;these as a watering source for the
> cordyline in the&nbsp;middle of my driveway
> area&nbsp;which doesn't have irrigation to it.
> 
> The bathtub will have water plants&nbsp;surrounded
> by a&nbsp;raised soil area held back with
> rocks.&nbsp;&nbsp;I will plant the 2 Cordyline,
> 1-Coteneaster parneyi, 1-Callistemon and some
> miscellleanous low growing ground cover plants in
> the soil surrounding the bathtub and then will bury
> the ollas next to the plants needing water.&nbsp;The
> pink/magenta flowers of the callistemon will play
> off the color of the Cordyline and I have some
> portulaca and an artemisia and a&nbsp;magenta
> colored pelargonium to interplant.
> 
> But my question is will the cordyline do well in the
> full sun - the two specimens&nbsp;I puchased are in
> such wonderful condition -&nbsp;I don't want to take
> a risk&nbsp;planting them in full sun
> and&nbsp;having them get sun burnt and suffer during
> the summer - their foliage is so perfect now.
> 
> Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
> 
> Linda Starr
> Springville Lavender Gardens
> Southern Sierra Nevada foothills, 
> Ca, USA, Zone 9
> 
>
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