Pink Lady Ti Plant

Pink Lady Ti Plant (Cordyline fruticosa 'Pink Lady') brings colour to a shaded tropical bed without producing a single flower worth mentioning. Upright canes carry broad leaves striped in pink, cream and deep green, reaching about 1.8m tall but only a metre across, so it fits the narrow strip beside a pool or a path. Colour is strongest in bright filtered light, not full sun.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage colour all year. Pink and cream striping over green does the job flowers usually do, without a season off.
• Tall and narrow. Around 1.8m high and only 1m wide, which suits a narrow bed against a fence or a pool surround.
• Poolside friendly. Broad leaves, no fine litter and no fruit drop, so it does not keep filling the skimmer basket.
• Easy to control. Cut a cane down and it reshoots from the base, so height is a decision rather than a problem.

Where it works best

Poolside and courtyards. The clean upright habit and lack of leaf litter make it one of the better choices around water. Set plants 70cm apart along a pool fence for a screen of colour.

Mass planting and feature beds. The same 70cm spacing across a bed builds a block of pink and cream under established canopy. Repeat one plant rather than mixing several variegated types.

Pots and balconies. A 400mm pot suits a single plant and holds it nearer 1.2m. On a bright balcony it is one of very few tall plants that stays colourful in shade.

Growing Pink Lady Ti Plant in Australia

Position and climate. Bright filtered light or morning sun. Hot afternoon sun bleaches the pink and scorches leaf edges, while deep shade turns the plant plain green. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, and is frost tender, so cooler districts need it potted and kept under cover through winter.

Soil. Rich and free draining, with compost worked through the bed. Mulch 50mm deep to keep the roots cool and the moisture even.

Water and feed. Keep the soil evenly moist through the warm months and ease off in winter. It is not drought tolerant, and dry spells show as brown leaf margins. Feed with a controlled release fertiliser in early spring and again at midsummer.

Pruning. Remove lower leaves as they yellow to keep the canes clean. If a plant grows too tall or bare at the bottom, cut a cane back to 30cm in spring and it will send up several new heads.

What to expect when it arrives

Four sizes are grown: tubes, 140mm pots in packs of ten, 200mm pots in packs of six, and single 300mm plants. Tubes and 140mm plants are young, single stemmed and knee high or less, the value choice for mass planting a bed. The 300mm size arrives with real height and colour already showing.

Cordylines travel well because the leaves are thick and hold moisture, though some marking on outer leaves is normal. Plant into a sheltered, shaded position, water in, and expect new growth within four to six weeks in warm weather. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Designing a tropical garden that looks lush year round
• Browse the full cordyline range
• Plants for poolside gardens
• Compare variegated foliage plants

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Cordyline fruticosa is toxic to cats and dogs if the leaves are chewed, causing drooling, vomiting and loss of appetite. Keep it out of reach of a pet that chews foliage.

Why has the pink faded to green?

Too little light. The variegation needs bright filtered light to hold its colour, so a plant in deep shade drifts back towards plain green. Move it somewhere brighter, but out of hot afternoon sun.

Can I keep it shorter than 1.8m?

Yes. Cut a cane back to about 30cm in spring and it reshoots with two or three new heads. Doing this every few years keeps the plant full rather than bare legged.