Cordyline australis (red palmy plant)

[William]

I (think I) have some of these outside my house. They are growing very fast (even in the winter, without any care) and soon will obscure neighbours' windows. Short of removing them completely, what can I do to slow them or shorten them? I've seen the same/similar plants nearby but shorter and with multiple growth "heads" per trunk. Mine have a single head. Is there any way to encourage side growth near the bottom, then cut the top off? Or if I cut the top off, will that start side shoots?

[andyjevs]

Yep....cut the top off and that will usually produce two or three side shoots. Do this in spring.

You can cut these down as hard as you like.....i've seen them cut off at ground level and come up again as good as new.

Good luck.