SafePlants

Cordyline: An Exotic Touch for Your Garden and Home

Cordylines, with their exotic, palm-like appearance, have become a popular choice for both coastal and city planting. Their architectural form makes them a striking addition to any landscape or indoor space.

Considerations for Pets

• Cordyline species are often found in gardens and homes.

Considerations for Children

• Cordyline species are often found in gardens and homes.

Nomenclature and Taxonomy

• Scientific Name: Cordyline australis
• Common Names: Cabbage Tree, Cabbage Palm, Cornish Palm, Torbay Palm, Ti Kouka, Lily Palm, Tie Palm, New Zealand Tie-Palm, Cabbage Plant, Ti Plant
• Family: Asparagaceae
• Subfamily: Lomandroideae
• Taxonomic Rank:
  • Domain: Eukaryota
  • Kingdom: Plantae
• Synonyms/Alternative Scientific Names: Cordyline terminalis, Cordyline fruticosa

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to New Zealand.
• Common in gardens of White Head, Co Antrim, and seen in coastal and city locations.
• The ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa) is found in tropical regions.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Tufted evergreen shrubs that mature into awkwardly shaped stubby trees.
• Typically formed of a single cylindrical branched stem, each branch bearing a tuft of long, thin leaves.
• Leaves can be green, bronze, or pinkish.
• Can reach up to 25ft in height.
• Some varieties have multi-colored, arching, variegated foliage.

Ecological Role

• In New Zealand, Cordyline australis is described as a small yucca or palm-like tree.

Other Cordyline Species

• There are approximately 20 species of Cordyline.
• Other species include Cordyline indivisa and Cordyline terminalis.
• Cultivars include 'Red Star', 'Purple Tower', 'Festival™ Burgundy', and 'Cha Cha' (P).

Further Information

• Burncoose Nurseries, Seagrave Nurseries Limited, and Paradise Distributors are sellers of cordylines.
• The International Cordyline Society (Brisbane, Australia) is a resource for information.