Cordyline fruticosa
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cordyline terminalis
- Phonetic Spelling
- kor-di-LY-nee froo-tih-KOH-sah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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This evergreen is a flowering tropical plant commonly grown as a houseplant in temperate climates. It has stunning foliage with shades of pale pink, green, purple or deep red depending on the cultivar. It does require bright light to maintain its foliage colors. Water the plant when the top of the soil feels dry, never allowing the bottom of the pot to stand in water. Raise the humidity around the plant by placing it in a saucer filled with pebbles and water. This plant is sensitive to fluoride and may need to be watered with distilled water.
Family name previously Agavaceae
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves have grooved petioles
- Leaves are USUALLY tinged or splashed with red
Tropical shrub to 13'.
Often confused with Dracaena spp., which have no petioles; the Ti plant is all-green and is the 'grass' used for hawaiian hula skirts. Prefers high light, moist soil and medium relative humidity; leaves will brown at tips if air too dry; pest problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cordyline
- Species:
- fruticosa
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Australia and Papua New Guinea
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- A small berry.
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Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Description:
- A terminal panicle. White or tinged yellow or red, radially symmetric, 6 tepals united at base to form tube, lobes reflexed.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Crowded, simple, oblong-lanceolate, 1-2' x 2-4", green or tinged purple or red; petiole grooved.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Clustered, erect, branched or unbranched.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
