It is not green. It is purple-bronze. A striking, large Cordyline with broad, sword-like leaves. A cabbage tree that breaks the rule. The leaves are long and narrow, up to 60 centimetres in length. They have a smooth, leathery texture. The purple-bronze colour is most intense in full sun, where the leaves take on a rich, metallic sheen. In shade, the colour may fade to a greenish-bronze. A plant that changes colour with the light. The plant grows into a small, multi-trunked tree. It reaches 3 to 5 metres in height. The trunks are slender and upright. They branch at the base to create a bushy, multi-stemmed form. The overall shape is architectural. Leaves radiate from the tips of each stem like a fountain. Purple Cabbage Tree produces large, branched flower heads in summer. The flowers are small, white, and fragrant. They attract bees and other insects. The flowers are followed by small, white berries that persist into winter. The plant is extremely hardy. It tolerates drought, wind, salt spray and frost. It is perfect for adding dramatic colour and architectural form to large gardens and landscapes. The cultivar was selected for its rich purple-bronze foliage. The parent species, Cordyline australis, is a common tree throughout New Zealand. But this cultivar was bred for garden use. Selected for its striking colour. To find Purple Cabbage Tree is to look in gardens and landscapes throughout New Zealand. The garden is bright. The purple cabbage tree stands. Purple-bronze leaves radiating. A tower of colour against the green. It does not know it is a cultivar. It does not know it was bred for its colour. It just grows. That is what cabbage trees do. No significant conservation threats as this is a cultivated variety. Not applicable to wild populations. Hardy and pest-resistant in garden settings. Tolerates drought, wind, salt spray and frost. This is a garden cultivar, not a wild species. It is grown in New Zealand gardens for its purple-bronze foliage. No formal conservation assessment exists for this cultivar.