Description
Cordyline australis ‘Zumba’ is one of the entries of the new plants competition Innovert of the French trade fair Salon du Végétal 2018 which will be held this week (June 19-21). ‘Zumba’ is characterized by its radiant, evergreen, narrow, arching foliage. “Magnificent bright pink leaves with dark red edges. Sunny site, well-drained soil, hardy to -6 tot -8 °C. Adult dimensions: 1.20 m high x 1 m across.”Breeding new Cordyline cultivars with attractive foliage colors. French nursery Rouxel submitted it to the competition. The cultivar is bred by Peter Jhon Fraser from Kihikihi, Waikato, New Zealand and derives from a planned breeding program with the objective to create new Cordyline cultivars with attractive foliage colors. ‘Zumba’ originated from a crossing in 2006 of the female or seed parent Cordyline ‘Red Fountain’ and the male or pollen parent Cordyline ‘Albertii’. The new cultivar was selected in 2010. US Plant Patent was granted in December 2016.
Addition to Dance series
‘Zumba’ is an addition to the Dance series from Fraser. The series also includes patented cultivars as ‘Can Can’, ‘Pasa Dobla’, ‘Cha Cha’, ‘Polka’, ‘Salsa’, ‘Samba’ and ‘Jive’. Dance features strappy foliage that is a very striking, has great variegation and matures to a different colour over time.