Question
I've had a cordyline australis growing for 10 years and it's now about 20 feet tall.  If I cut it down to about 5 feet will it start sprouting leaves from that point please?

Answer
Christine, Cabbage trees are very hardy, but if you cut them back to the point where there is no foliage at all, you may damage it beyond repair; the cut back should be at a point where there is still branching below the cut, at this point you will be fine and encourage lateral branching to develop. The reason for this is the plant needs existing leaves for photosynthesis to take place..Nick