The mountain cabbage tree originally grew in the cool mountain forests of New Zealand and is characterized by its wide, two meter long, blue-grey foliage. The fibres of the leaf are very strong, and were used by the Maori for, among other things, fishing. The young stems are eaten as a vegetable. The false stem can reach a height of eight meters in nature. In a temperate climate, the species can be kept as a container plant, which is why the plant will stay smaller. The minimum temperature lies around minus 10 degrees Celsius, but in a sheltered spot, the older plants are even more hardy.
Sowing description: Sow the seeds in sowing mix and let them germinate at around 20 degrees Celcius. Keep the soil constantly moist. Germination normally occurs in 8 to 12 weeks.
Photo 1: Tanetahi via Flickr
Photo 2: Curiosity Thrills via Flickr
