Moving cordelines

Wilderbeast

Hi all I've been offered the chance of 5 big cordelines about 5/6ft tall not sure of species but there a deep burgundy colour. My question is will moving them be successful, ive never done this before (with a cordeline) so tips for best success are greatly appreciated

Hostafan1

My understanding is that they have a deep " tap root" and don't move well.
If they're going free , you might as well have a go.

Wilderbeast

Thanks hostafan yes me thinks it's worth a go as they would look great in my tropical area. Will try to remove with a very big root ball and hope for the best.

pr1mr0se

I've just moved (ok, so re-potted) one today.  It's mature - though not as big as yours (probably about 4ft).  

I removed it from its pot with a large rootball (not a tap root that I could see).  I made sure that it was well watered beforehand, and then gave it a good drink in its new home.  

I've done this previously, though not as large a specimen as this.  I have high hopes that it will love its new, snazzy pot!

Paul B3

Agree totally with Hostafan1 ; the taproot will only develop in open ground though .

Going fairly deep they can be extremely difficult to move ; the more general root-system can also prove very 'trying' .

I removed a very large one from my garden after the frosts of 2009/10 ; I used a heavy mattock to take out the main root , but even now it still sends up new stems every year.

I surmise some of the root survived .

Wilderbeast

So I've dug up the big cordelines today and indeed they have a gigantic tap root about the same size as the trunk !!!. I did dig well down but found that the tap roots snapped with only minimal leverage. So it's replanting time and fingers crossed, a 50% survival rate will be lucky I think.