Cordyline ‘Jurred’ (Festival Burgundy)

A three-species Cordyline bred in New Zealand

Felix and Mark Jury developed ‘Jurred’ in New Zealand through a breeding programme involving C. banksii, C. australis and C. pumilio.

The hand-pollinated seed parent was believed to combine C. banksii with Cordyline australis ‘Purple Tower’. Pollen from C. pumilio completed the cross. The resulting cultivar carries ancestry from three Cordyline species.

All three parent species are native to New Zealand.

Care for roots and supported growth

Watering

Water when the top few centimetres are dry but before the fibrous root ball dries throughout, soaking evenly and letting the heavy container drain without standing water.

Ventilating many narrow leaf heads

Dry to average household air is acceptable for this Cordyline cultivar. Maintain airflow around the basal clump and use an occasional rinse for dust, allowing it to dry before night.

Light for low burgundy shoots

Give Cordyline ‘Jurred’ strong daylight directly at an east, south or west window. Acclimated leaves tolerate some direct sun, which supports dense burgundy growth from the base.

Feeding active burgundy growth

The plant needs modest, regular feeding. Feed it at a low dose while it is producing leaves or roots.

Repotting

Repot the plant when it becomes unstable, roots pack the drainage area or the mix has broken down. A broad, heavy pot only slightly wider than the root ball is safer than a large increase; add depth only where the roots will use it.

Thinning and dividing a many-shoot clump

This cultivar forms an arching basal clump and does not need a moss pole or trellis. Divide only a well-rooted outside fan for size control.

Problems in the basal clump of Cordyline Festival Burgundy

The burgundy clump opens in the middle

Festival Burgundy branches from the base and builds a grassy clump. Older central shoots can become exposed as outer fans expand, especially under one-sided light. Rotate the pot and remove only dead leaves. Soft central shoot bases or a sour smell indicate decay, not normal clump architecture.

New blades appear greener than the older fans

Fresh leaves can deepen as they harden, while weak light produces softer growth with weaker burgundy colour. Move the clump gradually into brighter light and compare mature replacement leaves. Avoid using heavy feeding to chase colour; wait for a complete new fan before judging the result.

The many fine tips become straw-brown

A clump has numerous exposed tips, so uneven drying, fertiliser salts, wind and cold show quickly. Check moisture within the dense root ball, flush residues and protect it from harsh draughts. Trim dead tips if desired. Browning that starts from a wet, soft shoot base needs a rot inspection.

One basal fan loosens or pulls away

A fan that detaches with a brown, soft base has likely begun to rot after cold wet conditions or water trapped among dead sheaths. Remove the affected fan, clear debris and inspect neighbouring shoots for firmness. If softness is spreading through the shared base, act before the whole clump collapses.

Cordyline ‘Jurred’ (Festival Burgundy) is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• It contains saponins that can irritate the mouth and digestive tract.
• Chewing may cause drooling, vomiting, stomach pain, reduced appetite or weakness. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop.

What does Cordyline mean, and who first published it?

Cordyline comes from Greek kordyle, meaning club, referring to its thickened underground stems.

Robert Brown established the genus Cordyline in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, page 280; Philibert Commerson had proposed the name.