We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Gardening

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Cabbage Tree?

By Brenda Scott
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 7,636
Share

In spite of its name, a cabbage tree is not a tree which grows cabbages sold at the local supermarket. This is actually a common name for a variety of different trees. One of the most widely recognized is Cordyline australis, a palm-like tree native to New Zealand. The Andira inermis is another species known by this name which grows in Mexico, Central America and South America, while the black cabbage tree, Melanodendron integrifolium, is endemic, or found exclusively on the south Atlantic island of St. Helena.

The New Zealand cabbage tree may look like a palm, but it is not a member of the palm family. The tree can reach a height of 39 feet (12 m) to 65 feet (20m) with a bare trunk and branches near the top. The leaves are long and blade-like, appearing in clusters on the branches. In the spring the tree will blossom with fragrant white, red or yellow flowers.

The Maoris, a native people group from New Zealand, used the tree for fibers and medicine and wove its branches into baskets, rope and sandals. Early European settlers made beer from the roots and ate the inner leaves and stalks raw or cooked as a vegetable. They are the ones who began calling the drought-resistant tree a cabbage plant. The trunk was so fire-resistant that the settlers used its wood to build their chimneys. This cabbage tree has been successfully transplanted in the USA, Europe and Great Britain, where it is referred to as the Torquay Palm.

The cabbage tree found in tropical zones of Central and South America and West Africa can also reach 65 feet (20m) in height. This evergreen has pink and purple flowers in the spring and produces a small fruit with a single large seed. The gray bark has been used in herbal medicines for generations as a cure for intestinal worms, ringworm and other fungal skin infections, but the plant must be used with great care. This tree is actually considered a poison and too large a dose can cause vomiting, fever and even death. Castor oil and lime juice have been used as antidotes.

The black cabbage tree is only found on the island of St. Helena located in the south Atlantic about half-way between South America and Alaska. This tree is smaller than the others, only reaching an average height of 13 feet (4m) and has thick, dark leaves which grow in clusters resembling a head of cabbage near the end of the branches. They can be found in moist regions on the mountain slopes. The bark, which is always damp, tends to be covered with mosses, lichens and ferns.

The black cabbage is also a flowering tree and produces flowers formed by a cluster of small yellow disc florets surrounded by white petal-like florets. The black cabbage tree is protected under an endangered species regulation due to its limited growing range and the threat of encroachment by non-indigenous species transplanted on St. Helena. An active replanting program has been initiated in two national parks on the island to protect this species.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-is-a-cabbage-tree.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.