Family: Agavaceae

Origin: New Zealand

Common in gardens of Northern Ireland, especially near the coast. Fast-growing, and easy to cultivate. It can reach a height of up to 20m, often much-branched with many growing points.

Trees produce sweetly scented flowers, and abundant fruit and seed. There are several cultivars available, with leaf colouration ranging from yellow- and red-veined, to deep red.

This tree was formerly called 'dracaena' - whence 'Dracaena Avenue' in Falmouth in Cornwall.

Tree in fruit, Islandmagee, Co Antrim October 2004

Berries