Cordylines

Ti plant or cabbage tree: the split that matters

Everything on this page is a cordyline, but the two main species behave very differently. The ti plants (Cordyline fruticosa) carry the loud tropical foliage: Firestorm and Red Edge at about 1.5m, near black Negra and Caruba Black at 2m. They love warmth and humidity, take partial shade and resent frost. The cabbage trees (Cordyline australis) are the tough ones: Red Sensation and Red Star form spiky burgundy fountains to about 3.5m and stand up to frost, drought, wind and coastal salt.

Between the two sit our native species. Cordyline stricta makes a narrow 3m screen for shade, and the broad leaved palm lily (Cordyline petiolaris) follows its cream flowers with showy red berry sprays that bring in the birds.

Where cordylines work around the country

In tropical and subtropical gardens the ti plants are foundation planting: poolside, massed along a fence, or colouring the dry shade under palms. In warm temperate and coastal gardens both camps thrive, with the cabbage trees earning their keep in exposed, salty positions where little else with colour survives. In cooler southern gardens, plant Red Sensation or Red Star outdoors with confidence and treat the ti plants as bright light indoor or patio plants that winter under cover. Deep foliage colour holds best with a few hours of gentle sun; hard afternoon sun can bleach the pinks.

Planting and spacing

For a massed colour block, plant ti plant varieties 60cm apart; the same spacing gives a dense narrow screen of Cordyline stricta. Space palm lilies 1m apart, and give a cabbage tree about 1.5m of clear width as a feature. Dig the hole twice the width of the pot and no deeper, water in well, mulch 75mm deep off the stems, and water deeply twice a week through the first summer. In pots, use a premium free draining mix and a container 40cm or wider.

Care is genuinely minimal

Cordylines ask little once established. Peel away tired lower leaves as the stems extend, water during long dry spells, and feed once in spring. If a ti plant grows leggy, cut the cane back by half in late spring and it reshoots below the cut, usually with more than one head. Our cordyline garden guide covers styling and companions in more detail.

Common questions

Are cordylines frost hardy?

The cabbage tree varieties are, and they handle cold snaps across southern Australia without damage. The ti plants are frost tender, and one hard frost will burn them badly. The native stricta and petiolaris sit in the middle, coping with light frost only.

Are cordylines safe for dogs and cats?

No. Cordyline foliage contains saponins that are toxic to cats and dogs, so none of this range carries our Pet Friendly flag. Most animals ignore them, but choose something else for a garden with a persistent chewer.

Can I grow a cordyline indoors?

The ti plant varieties do well inside in bright indirect light, and several in this range are sold for exactly that. Cabbage trees want full sun and belong outdoors. Browse our indoor plant range for more options that thrive under a roof.

How do they arrive?

Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and no minimum order. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee, and the rest of the lush look lives in our tropical plant collection.