How to use Cordyline Australis/New Zealand Cabbage Tree for ties, twine, or weaving

M Broussard wrote:Kia ora from New Zealand! It's always neat to see our native plants dispersed across the world!

Cabbage tree (also called tī) leaves can be used for fine weaving directly by taking thin strips of uniform size from the leaves (don't use the midrib--it's too thick). This can be done while green for items made for temporary purposes, but leaves should be somewhat dry if you plan to make a durable basket (kete). There are also kete made from whole tī leaves. If you google "tī kōuka basket how to" you will find some good instructional videos by various people.

For making cordage, tī is great. For rough stuff, just make thin strips from the dry leaves and twine together. Works great for most garden purposes (using it right now to tie up my tomatoes).


If you want some guidance on the general method, search "making muka fibre" which will turn up some educational videos on how to process harakeke leaves into muka (the fine fibres for making cordage)--the process for tī is similar once the leaves have been cooked or retted.

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Wow, brilliant, thank you. I'll search using those terms.
For making strips, would you recommend just eyeing it and ripping, or using some sort of tool? I watched a video on hat making with the leaves and used a tool with tines. The closest I can image is a fork or a block with nails, but I don't know how necessary that part is.

Thanks so much!

Brandi Lee Lough Dennell wrote:Wow, brilliant, thank you. I'll search using those terms.
For making strips, would you recommend just eyeing it and ripping, or using some sort of tool? I watched a video on hat making with the leaves and used a tool with tines. The closest I can image is a fork or a block with nails, but I don't know how necessary that part is.

Thanks so much!

tony uljee wrote:theres a website that shows maori traditional use of plants and how the cabbage palm plus the ti plant were being selectively bred for sugar production until the europeans  arrived with the easy access to cane sugar , plant also has large amount of carbohydrate production potential---even if you dont want to make hooch to drink it could be a fuel , i have planted up some as an evergreen hedge addition , but a long way to go yet. It survives and thrives here on west coast of ireland and i have seen several large trees of it , and in flowering stage , many survived the big freeze we had for a month ---down to minus 17 centigrade peak for a week nearly .