Cordyline manners – suttoniae is a palm lily that, like a lot of other NQ species, grows a bit too well in our area. It looks very similar to a local species, Cordyline petiolaris. It’s the similarities that allowed it to spread throughout the shire. Manners seedlings were sold incorrectly as petiolaris and many were planted in bushland reserves. Once they established they became dominant and outcompeted local species. They are very hard to kill.
Manners can be bought in commercial nurseries. The much better local choice petiolaris, along with rubra, is available from Hinterhub and Coolum native nursery.
Common names: Broad leafed palm lily, swamp lily
Scientific name: Cordyline manners – suttoniae
Native to: Far north Queensland
Family: Laxmanniaceae
Habit: Shrub to 5m
Flowers: White or cream
Fruit: striking bunches of berries – yellow turning to red
Dispersal method: Spread by birds
Control measures: Cut and paint and needs continuous follow up
