Pink Champion Cordyline

Pink Champion Cordyline (Cordyline fruticosa 'Pink Champion') is the quickest way to put strong colour into a warm climate garden without waiting for anything to flower. It grows to about 2m tall and 1m wide, with broad strap leaves washed in pink over burgundy, and it holds that colour through every season. In a group or a single large pot, it does the work a flowering shrub would do, all year.

Why you'll love it

• Colour that never goes off. The pink and burgundy sit in the foliage, so there is no flowering gap to plan around.
• Upright and narrow. About 2m tall on roughly 1m of width, which suits a tight bed beside a path or a fence line.
• Heat and humidity are no problem. It holds condition through a subtropical summer without wilting or scorching.
• Low maintenance. Water, a feed in spring and an occasional cut back is the entire job.
• Excellent in pots. The narrow habit makes it one of the better tropical feature plants for a container.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A single plant at a corner or an entry reads as a deliberate accent. Three in a triangle give more weight without more width.

Mass planting. Set plants 600mm to 800mm apart for a continuous block of colour. That spacing lets each clump fill out while the row still reads as one planting.

Poolside, balconies and courtyards. It sheds very little, tolerates reflected heat off paving and drops no fruit or thorns, which is what a pool surround needs.

Growing Pink Champion Cordyline in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade to filtered sun brings out the deepest pink. Harsh full sun bleaches the leaves and deep shade turns them dull. This is a plant for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. Being frost tender, it wants a movable pot in cold inland districts and cool southern gardens.

Soil. Well drained soil with compost worked through. On heavy clay, plant on a raised mound. Mulch 50mm to 75mm deep, kept off the stems.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer, then settle into a regular deep soak rather than frequent sips. A controlled release fertiliser in early spring and again in mid summer keeps the new growth strongly marked.

Pruning. Once the lower stems go bare, cut a cane back to 30cm to 50cm in spring and it reshoots with several new heads.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in four sizes: 140mm in packs of ten, 180mm and 200mm in packs of six, and single 300mm pots. The 140mm and 180mm plants are young, single stemmed and the value choice for mass planting. The 200mm and 300mm pots arrive with real height and colour already on them.

Cordylines travel well, though the outermost leaves may bruise or brown at the edges in transit. Trim those off and the plant carries on. Expect a quiet few weeks after planting, then new growth from the crown in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare the full cordyline range.
• Read our guide to designing a tropical garden.
• Browse plants for poolside gardens.
• See more tropical garden plants.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for mass planting?

About 600mm to 800mm apart. Each plant spreads to roughly 1m, so that spacing knits into a solid band of colour without the clumps shading each other out at the base.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Like other Cordyline fruticosa forms it is toxic to cats and dogs, and chewed leaves can cause vomiting and drooling. Plant it where a pet that chews foliage cannot reach it.

Can I keep it in a pot long term?

Yes, and it is one of the better choices for it. Use a pot at least 400mm wide, expect it to settle nearer 1.5m than 2m, and cut a leggy cane back hard in spring.