Last two years have been trying but, what kept me sane were plants like this... CORDYLINE - Lots of people have them but I was astonished to find this flowering at just 4 years old, and highly scented also.
I have palms and Canna's with this plant but, seems I can only upload one at a time..
I waas going to add a couple
I had no idea that Cordylines flowered Ern, maybe that's because they too have never survived a winter in my garden, even with fleece protection, so I stopped buying them. Thank you for the photograph. I have also been a little frustrated at times at only being able to post one photo at a time under one heading but that's how the system works unfortunately.
Red ones are not very hardy, green will survive most winters, Well drained soil is a must. I was shocked it flowered so young.
Looks very healthy Ern. Our Cordyline out the front flowers too. We didn’t plant it, it just appeared. Xxx
Interesting, if it self seeded - are you in a warm part of the UK?
We’re on the South Coast Ern. Xxx🤗
Can't get better for plants like Cordylines. Coast air plus sun.. You should also be able to grow the red variety as a hardy down there, I am NW England. I think 3 palms are hardy in my garden as are Canna's 
That is magnificent. Lucky you Ern.
Thank's. I feel lucky with garden, canna's and palms are growing well..
Beautiful the flower looks so delicate thank you for sharing. Have a good night and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx
That's a lovely specimen Ern, you absolutely must have it in the perfect spot! I live on the Kent/ Sussex border, but in somewhat of a frost pocket. I lose Canna, Salvia and many other plants that most would consider hardy down here! Is it perhaps the gulf stream that keeps your garden temperate? I used to visit Colonsay, an island in the Inner Hebridies and the Laird's house had all sorts of palms and other "exotics"! Quite incongruous! Today I really must do some cuttings just in case 
xx
You can leave canna plants in the ground, but give them a thickness of mulch to protect roots from frost.. You can lift them and take inside, but i would rather leave them is situ.. I live in NW England BTW.
One palm hardy and will stand a lot is the European Fan Palm. "chamaerops humilis" - I have five from small to 3 foot, they are slow growing but reliable..
Prosperity - Garden News - Hardy fuchsias that never let me down and both, are still flowering.. I find exotic gardening fun.
How strange is that ,. Am having to have my garden overhauled and have spent a many hours looking at Cordylines ........Am planning on four possibly five varieties in one area .Do they grow quickly ,
There's the decision.... should I buy one large or two smaller of each variety . I am in middle England ,it's fairly warm here , although my garden is all south facing we do get a good deal of wind. Am not very far from the coast ...
Your plant is beautiful , the flower is so different.....
Any advice is most welcome ......
Jo. ☺️
The picture I posted is of roughly a 4 to five year old plant, now it is near 6 foot tall and is not in full sun all the time.. They are not slow in growing, get a decent plant to start,
The flower is highly scented and that is a bonus - all in all a good plant. You say yo may want more than one, well he is an idea --- 2 green pref as they are hardier.
You may want to consider the European Fan Palm which also flowed for me this year, but nowhere bear as good as the Cordyline flower,, Goes by the name " Chamaerops Humilis" - I will I will link you to a picture of a young one to give you some idea. I live in NW England BTW Another surprise for me was getting two canna's from garden centre, one grew and grew and grew and still flowering. I bought my Chamaerops Humilis 's at local Garden centre, prices ranging from 313 to £40 pounds.
here is a rough idea of what a youngish plant looks like ..Good luck with makeover, gardeningexpress.co.uk/cham...
One of my Cordylines is about twenty years old maybe longer, it has stood being dug up and moved to another house. two years ago we dug it out and were able to get about thirty or so more plants that have all taken some in our garden some in family and friends/ They are very slow growing and may often lose there lower leaves a s they get taller. My one variety is called i think Australian Surfer as it can produce some twisted tall leaves. I also have the usual red ones which i still like.
Thank you for the information on your Cordylines. I think I will have to buy large plants so I can have a nice show quickly. Will wait till spring to buy .......
Jo...☺️
Hi then lose lower leaves that turn yellow, they should be removed as close to the trunk as possible... As they get taller they look better with stem cleared lower down.
Lovely ! I had the same problem in uploading photos...
Well done you, and well done that cordyline.
Lovely specimin Ern007, I have never seen it flower before. I have had a few and the last one grew so well until one winter and it died so have given up trying. I do like them though so well done in keeping it healthy x
Stunning.
They may be pretty, but if you have lung problems - asthma or lung hypersensitivity or are badly affected by pollen - when they are flowering they can cause severe breathing problems, especially if there is a lot of them close together and flowering at the same time.
Feeling down this time
Feeling really down and confused
Writing it down has helped.
