How To Grow Stunning Cordyline (Ti) Plants: For House And Garden

Cordyline Plant (Cordyline fruticosa)

If you have been diagnosed with chronic phytophillia (excess love of plants) you picked a winner in the Cordyline, which you may know as the Ti (pronounced tea) plant. You can grow the stunning Cordyline for your house or garden. It’s a low-maintenance ornamental woody shrub to grow indoors as a house plant or outdoors in Zones 9-11. If that’s not enough, the Ti plant brings good luck to us as it brings us happiness and welcomes guests at the same time! (Because the two names are both used so often I will call them the Cordyline-Ti plant)

You will see the term Cordyline terminalis occasionally used, it is an older term for the plant. The genus has stayed the same but the species name updated. Also in this discussion we are primarily interested in Cordelyne fruticosa, the Ti plant. There is some information on Cordyline australis, the grass-like plant that can become a tree.

This will help you with basic Botanical Latin:

Latin For Gardeners: How To Read And Remember Plant Names.

For a review of other tropical foliage plants try this.

How We Got The Names Cordyline and Ti Plant

Uses For The Cordyline-Ti Plant For House And Garden

The Polynesians carried the plant (green) in their dugout canoes as a food source but, over time, it developed many uses. Here are some ways people utilize this remarkable plant.

• Medicinal uses: Ti leaves have been used for fevers, decongestants, and healing.
• Ti leaves can be used for wrapping gifts, cooking food, dish liners, hula skirts, in an underground oven, and more. The water-resistant leaves could also be made into raincoats and shoes. The sweet roots can be baked or even distilled into an alcoholic beverage called Okoloho. It was a beer-like beverage for many years until the European sailors showed up and distilled it into something more powerful!
• There is even a story that if you want to go for a swim and need to know if a shark is around you put a Ti leaf in the water. Only swim if it floats.

So, if you take a trip to Hawaii, and your resort has a Luau night (you should do this once) you will eat food cooked in Ti leaves, and the girls in rustling ‘grass’ skirts will really be wearing Ti leaves.

Here is help to visit Maui a beautiful Hawaiian island to which people are returning.

The Stunning Cordyline-Ti Plant For The House

Choose The Best Light For Your Cordyline-Ti Plant

Indoors, during spring and summer find a space with bright light but away from direct sunlight. This will avoid dehydration or sunburn. From fall to spring ensure about two hours per day of direct light.

The Stunning Cordyline-Ti Plant For The Garden

Color for the pool without cleaning up blossoms

Here are ways to enjoy the Ti plant in your Zone 9-11 garden.

• This bright, vibrant plant makes a great tropical accent in your garden.
• In larger spaces use a grouping or long hedge of the Ti plant.
• This is an excellent source of color near your swimming pool as the color comes from foliage and does not drop blossoms.
• Use them in borders as middle or rear plants with lower-growing plants in front.
• Ti plant makes a dramatic ‘thriller’ in the center or rear of planters.
• The plant can become ‘leggy’ with bare stalks near the ground, and plant some lower plants (annuals work well) in front. In the section on pruning, I will show you a way to reduce the leggy appearance.
• Consider Cordyline-Ti plants anywhere you want color available all day, every day. You don’t need to wait for blooms.
• The Cordyline-Ti plant makes an attractive hedge alone or mixed with other tropical foliage plants. In fact, if you don’t know what to do with all your old surfboards you can just combine them with your plants and finally have a hedge that is a conversation piece!

How We Got The Cordyline-Ti Plant

A long time before Europeans made their way east the Cordyline plant was carried in dugout canoes to about any habitable island in the Pacific. If you read James Michner’s ‘Hawaii’ you found a good story about these migrations. The Cordyline was so significant to those early migrants that today ethnobotanists are trying to recreate those migrations by tracking the peoples’ use of the Ti plants!

The Cordyline-Ti plant was the common denominator of all those years of dugout canoe trips, if the plant was found on an island, it was part of the overall migration. It has always been an important plant.

But how did we get them to the Western world? Credit for scientifically recording them under difficult circumstances goes to German-born botanist Georg Eberhard Rumphius in the late 1600s. Rumphius did so in his seminal work Herbarium Amboinense, from 1741–50, while working as a colonial merchant for the Dutch East India Company in the Maluku Islands. For more information on this undaunted figure in the history of plant hunting, see Vibrant Varieties of Croton: Unique Plants for House and Garden.

The Cordyline-Ti Plant In The West

We know that Rumphius first scientifically recorded the plant while working in Indonesia for the Dutch East India Company. Carl Linnaeus who made taxonomy bearable for us regular gardeners named the plant Convallaria fruticosa in 1754. It was later discussed by the botanist Robert Brown in 1810. By the mid-1800s, excitement for the plant grew as Europeans developed an interest in non-native art and horticulture. Also before the 1850s colorful flowers were the focus, but in these years new, vivid and interesting foliage plants moved into focus, and Belgian and French traders moved into the business of servicing the public taste.

Interestingly we see today that during the Covid cycle house plants enjoyed a strong interest that doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Those of us who are tropical gardeners have always appreciated the plants in our gardens.

In periods of growing popularity, you can expect to see a good choice of colors and shapes.

Varieties Of The Stunning Cordyline Ti Plant To Use For House or Garden

Cordyline-Ti plant, comes in a variety of stunning cultivars. Here are some of the most important and popular varieties. You should be able to use these in the house or garden.

1. Cordyline fruticosa ‘Hawaiian Boy‘: This variety showcases dark purple to red foliage, adding beauty to any space with its eye-catching shape and form.
2. Cordyline fruticosa ‘Florida Red: Known for its strap-like, dark purple or red leaves variegated with a red-pink hue.
3. Cordyline fruticosa ‘Candy Cane’: This one is very candy-like, with green leaves decorated with lots of cream and pink.
4. Cordyline fruticosa ‘Black Magic’: This one brings high drama, colored in black and purple. (Black plants are hard to find.)
5. Cordeline fruticosa ‘Morning Sunshine‘: Here the new leaves emerge adorned with pink orange green and mauve streaks turning to a simple lemon-lime with age while stems remain striped with pink and cream color.
6. Cordyline fruticosa ‘Red Sister‘: has green, purple, and red leaves.
7. Cordyline australis: ‘Pink Passion’:The leaves are brilliant dark pink purple with pink edges. Note australis is the grass like species that can become a tree.
8. Cordyline australis ‘Red Star‘: Known for its palm and sword-like dark burgundy foliage
9. Cordyline fruticosa ‘Bolero Tricolor‘: Features green foliage with pink edges and hints of cream¹.
10. Cordyline fruticosa ‘Red Fountain‘: does not form a trunk, it grows its strappy leaves from a base like grass.

How To Grow And Maintain Cordyline-Ti Plants

Before we make plans to use the Cordyline Ti plant in our house or garden it might be fun to see the plant in the wild. I found these photos using Wikimedia Commons and this was taken on Maui in a section called ‘ Upcountry’ where you find beautiful mountains, real cowboys, local food, and a few polo players thrown in. It’s quite a place.

Growing Cordyline Ti Plants For The House

Caring for cordyline plants indoors is relatively straightforward and can add a vibrant touch to your home. Here are some tips to help your cordyline thrive:

Light

Cordylines prefer bright, indirect light. They can tolerate some direct sunlight, but too much can scorch their leaves. Place them near a window where they can get plenty of light without being exposed to harsh midday sun. (In South Florida, where we garden, they are used in full sun. Have we developed varieties that are acclimated to strong sun?

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so ensure the pot has good drainage.

Humidity

Cordylines enjoy a humid environment. Regular misting or placing a humidifier nearby can help maintain the humidity levels they need. Alternatively, you can place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water to increase humidity around the plant.

Temperature

Maintain a temperature range between 60-85°F (15-29°C). Avoid placing the plant in drafty areas or near heating/cooling vents, as sudden temperature changes can stress the plant.

Soil

Use a well-draining potting mix. A mix designed for houseplants or a combination of peat, perlite, and pine bark works well.

Fertilizing

Feed your cordyline with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season (spring and summer). Reduce feeding in the fall and winter when the plant’s growth slows down.

Pruning

Remove any dead or yellowing leaves to keep the plant looking tidy. You can also trim back any leggy growth to encourage a bushier appearance.

Propagating Your Cordyline Ti Plant

You can propagate cordylines by taking stem cuttings in the spring or summer. Make sure to disinfect your pruners. Then cut a 6–8 inch stem with leaves attached, then dip the cutting in water and rooting hormone. These are big leaves and you can cut them. Place the stem 1–2 inches into damp, well-drained potting soil and tamp down around it. Put the cutting in bright, indirect sunlight while it’s rooting and check the moisture daily. After 6–8 weeks, you should see roots.

Pests

Keep an eye out for common pests like spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs. If you notice any pests, treat the plant with insecticidal soap or neem oil.

By following these care tips, your cordyline should thrive and bring a touch of tropical beauty to your indoor space. If you have any specific concerns or questions about your cordyline, feel fr

Care Of Cordyline-Ti Plants In Your Garden

Water Established cordylines are drought-tolerant and do not usually need supplementary water. However, you will need to water plants that are being established. If you have Cordylines in containers, like any containerized plant, they will require more frequent water and fertilizer than the same plant in the ground.

Light Conditions

Cordyline-Ti plants prefer sunny locations and can tolerate partial sun. Always check for any special needs of the variety you are planting. In too much shade the plant’s color will be less brilliant and the plant can become leggy.

Soil Conditions

Provide the plant with rich, well-drained soil with a pH of about 6.5

Nutrition

Give containerized plants a balanced liquid fertilizer in the growing season. Alternatively, you can use a controlled-release fertilizer in spring if you use a fertilizer high in potassium which will provide a bright color.

Humidity And Temperature

Your plant will appreciate humidity, the more the better.

Cordyline-Ti plants will perform best in temperatures between 65-85 degrees F. During cold periods, protect your plant with frost coverings and plenty of mulch.

Pruning Garden Plants

The plant tends to become leggy. My husband, who loves pruning has developed a way to cut the tallest branch every year. This keeps some shorter growth for interest and creates a nice stem for propagating. He creates enough new plants every year to give away.

How Do I Find Good Plants And Information Too?

This one is Cordyline australis the grass like species.

• Tropical Plant Guy: Known for extensive work with Cordyline varieties and providing valuable information on how to grow and care for them. You will enjoy his creativity, he gardens outdoors in Norfolk UK, using a polytunnel in winter, and has some ideas for companion planting.
• Better Homes & Gardens: They offer comprehensive guides on Cordyline care and have contributed to the plant’s popularity through their publications. This is their basic guide to Cordyline-Ti plants.
• Justor offers some charming artistic images and some history. If you read history of plants you like you will learn about the tremendous risk and effort taken by some very remarkable people to bring the plants to us.
• The sources below are plant dealers or growers. You will find both plants and information on their sites.
• Peters Croton Nursery, located in South Florida they are a popular source for Croton and Ti plants. Their website is interesting and informative. You will find a good choice of plants here.
• Miami Tropical Plants, you will see a good variety on this site.
• San Marco Growers-this company raises Cordyline australis. This is the one that looks like a wide-bladed grass. If you trim it it will stay grass-like. If you let it grow you will have a tree!

Summary,

Cordyline plants will provide you with color and tropical shapes for both your house and your garden, and all wrapped in a low-maintenancee package. Use them wherever you need a tropical accent.

For more ideas on growing tropical foliage plants read this:

The New Tropical Gardeners Guide To Lush Foliage Plants.

Here is a quick summary of care.

Indoor Care:

• Light: Cordylines thrive in bright, indirect light.
• Water: Keep the soil consistently moist but not water-logged.
• Humidity: These tropical plants prefer high humidity, so misting or using a humidifier can be beneficial.
• Temperature: Maintain a warm environment, ideally between 65-85°F (18-29°C).

Outdoor Care:

• Location: Plant cordylines in well-draining soil with partial to full sun exposure.
• Watering: Regular watering is essential, especially during dry periods.
• Fertilization: Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer to promote healthy growth.
• Pruning: Trim dead or damaged leaves to encourage new growth and maintain the plant’s appearance.

Whether you’re planning to infuse your living room with color or enhance your garden’s tropical vibe, cordyline plants are a versatile and stunning choice. With the right care, these plants can thrive and bring beauty to any space.