It's a bit blurry, but I think it's just a mature and large cordyline

Hi Bamboo, I had to re-size the pic, dont know why its blurry, sorry about that.
Its one my Dad grew from seed many years ago and was in a pot for years. Its hardy. Those bottoms leaves go brown and droop and have to be cut off the main trunk each year, if that's any help.

I can see that from the knobbly trunk, too, but still think its Cordyline. Has it ever flowered and if so, were the flowers in a large cluster, white and scented, or just sort of long stems with not much of interest in flower terms on the ends?

Its a Cordyline Dawnsaunt. 100% sure :)

Thanks Daisy!! Bamboo thought that too. I would never have guessed that, thank you both.
Its never flowered yet. Its about 7 feet tall at the moment, so it may keep on growing.

I would agree...it's a mature cordyline. Your pic just shows how big they can get Dawnsaunt....that's a magnificent plant :))

Hello Crazydi, thank you. I've done a bit of a google now and would you say its a Cordyline australis?

Yes, I would think so. To buy one that size would probably cost about £100...I'm sooooo jealous, lol x

Oh dear Crazy, I'm shocked - I should probably treat it with a bit more respect now. Its grown to this size from being in a pot in about 6 years. It stood all the snow and frosts last Winter with no protection.

Lol....indeed, respect! Mine is a "pathetic-specimen-in-a-pot" in comparison....;)

That's it them Crazy - get it in the ground, lol.
We had to break the pot this was is and it was solid root with lots of baby rhizomes - they are dotted around the garden now - I think I should re-locate them now I know what the plant is :-)

Cordyline? I would have said Yucca elephantoides......are the leaf tips really sharp?

Definitely a Cordyline. Isn't Yucca elephantipes a houseplant in these Islands?

Iv'e got one like that but has now branched off too two heads, I bought it from Cornwall and the label seid Cornish Palm also I had one like yours in another garden I had and that was called the same. I will put a picture in my photo's of it.

Fractal - I had to check this out! Is this not the plant that you see growing everywhere on the south coast? Presumably non-hardy in the rest of the country, so, yes, a houseplant for you or I...? Anyway, I googled it and firstly, Y. elephantipes has now been renamed Yucca guatemalensis.

This is a description I found of it:-

"Spineless or giant yucca is true to both its names: Its leaves are pliable and lack the sharp spines on the tips that are so characteristic of most yuccas, and this is one big yucca, getting up to 30 ft (9.1 m) tall. With age the trunk becomes rough and thick, and when mature it develops a swollen base and often branches a few feet off the ground. The leaves, which grow in a spiral rosette are shiny green, to 4 ft (1.2 m) long and about 3 in (7.6 cm) wide with serrated margins. Like other yuccas, this one has white bell shaped flowers borne on tall stalks above the foliage in summer. The selection, 'Variegata' has leaves with creamy yellow margins."

I'm now off to look up Cordeline for comparison..............

Hi Sid, I've just been out to check the leaf tips - they're not sharp, a bit frayed if anything, not stiff leaves like the yucca.
Ladyessex. I'll look out for your photo.

Just like to add, Im soo jealous too :)

Aww Daisy - glad you like it. I feel a bit guilty because I've never really treasured it. Just special to me as Dad grew it. I've just been out and taken a couple more photos - closer up.

New photo's added confirm Cordyline australis for me. They even have the little yellow dots where rust has attacked the leaves!

Ah yes, new photos much clearer. Defo looks more Cordeline than Yucca to me too now! Sorry to have doubted you guys! Should have known better ;-)

Thanks everyone.
Great stuff, I'm pleased the new pics helped.
Sid: Just posted a pic that you may be interested in :-)

defo a Cordyline Australis, I have one thats 25ft tall and planted out in the garden, must have about 10 different flower spikes this year (june time). Very hardy, has survived below -5c here, even when younger.

Thanks Weatherwise - yours must be stunning, I didnt realise Cordyline's grew so big. Ours stood all the cold weather last year unprotected, which is good. Do you have a photo of yours?

I have a better photo which I will put up when I'm back on my computer later. Its the biggest Cordyline I've seen in my area but I saw some even bigger ones during the summer in Clacton.

Great, I'll look out for it.

Hi Cliffo, no, those multi headed trees you see on the south coast are just old mature Cordylines. Every time they flower, they branch. Really old plants look like this......

http://www.floralimages.co.uk/images/cordyline_australis_4a7.jpg

........or even this

http://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/450px-CordylineAustralis.jpg

love the images Fractal, make mine look a bit weak.
You mention above about the yellow dots where rust has attacked the leaves - what causes that, any idea?

It's just rust, a fungal infection.

Thanks Bamboo :-)