A spectacular cabbage tree, tropical-looking yet reasonably hardy to both cold and wind, providing that sought-after lush foliage look even in tough conditions. Combine it with slender foliage, such as grasses or ophiopogons or groundcover coprosmas, squat succulents in blue-grey or chocolate shades (Echeveria ‘Chocolate’ is great) or plants with small flowers and leaves such as the Sunbells petunias, and you can’t go wrong.

A great container plant too, especially when surrounded by succulents, which will stand a lot of neglect. A few sprays during summer with Beat-a-bug will prevent holes being chewed in the leaves.