Cordyline rubra, Red fruited Palm-lily

Cordyline rubra 
 Red fruited Palm-lily

This native palm lily grows to about 2 metres and has broad dark green leaves (30cm x 6cm), lilac flowers followed by bright red globular berries from December to April.It is a great shade plant and is very hardy in sandy coastal gardens. It is fairly easy to propagate from fresh seed or stem cuttings This particular plant was growing in the Port Stephens Native Flora Gardens in the delightful New South Wales coastal town of Nelson Bay. Part of the gardens is devoted to the Ngioka Horticultural and Therapy Centre .Disability groups which access the centre are involved in the production of local native plants for the Council and Landcare conservation.

It is well worth a visit to see the great work being carried out there.

Backing onto the gardens is the well kept grounds of the Nelson Bay Rugby Club ,home to "The Gropers".If you don't catch them in action ,the Seabreeze Hotel has rugby on the big screen and I was lucky enough to catch Berrick Barnes' Queensland Reds take on the South African Sharks and win!.