Brandy Lime Cordyline

Brandy Lime Cordyline (Cordyline fruticosa 'Brandy Lime') is a compact ti plant grown entirely for its leaves. It holds an upright clump about 1.5m tall and only 80cm wide, with broad strappy foliage in lime green washed and edged in deep brandy red. In a narrow bed or a pot it gives you tropical colour year round without a single flower doing the work.

Why you'll love it

• Colour that never goes off. The lime and burgundy foliage holds through every season, so a courtyard bed is never between displays.
• Narrow enough for tight spaces. At 80cm wide it fits a 1m garden bed, a planter against a wall or the side of a path.
• It works indoors too. Bright indirect light suits it, which makes it one of the few outdoor colour plants that transfers inside.
• Heat and humidity are no trouble. Built for warm wet summers, so it holds condition through a subtropical February when other foliage plants sulk.
• Very little maintenance. No pruning schedule, no deadheading. Remove the odd tired lower leaf.

Where it works best

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A pot 400mm or wider suits one plant. Grouped in threes on a balcony it gives height and colour in a footprint most shrubs cannot manage.

Mass planting and feature beds. Plant 60cm apart for a massed tropical planting. At that spacing the clumps overlap into a continuous band of colour without shading each other out.

Indoors. A bright room away from direct glass suits it, and the upright habit keeps its footprint small.

Growing Brandy Lime Cordyline in Australia

Position and climate. Filtered light or morning sun brings out the strongest colour; harsh afternoon sun bleaches the leaves and deep shade turns them greener. This is a plant for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It is frost tender, so in cooler southern districts grow it in a pot and move it under cover for winter.

Soil. Rich, free draining and high in organic matter. Work compost through the bed before planting and mulch 50mm deep. In pots use a quality potting mix rather than garden soil.

Water and feed. Keep it evenly moist through the warm months and ease back in winter. It is not drought tolerant, and dry spells show up as brown leaf tips. Feed a controlled release fertiliser in early spring and again in summer.

Pruning. None required. If a plant gets leggy, cut the cane back to about 30cm in spring and it will reshoot, usually with several stems instead of one.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow this cordyline in one size, tube stock. Plants arrive young, a single cane about 15cm to 20cm tall with a few coloured leaves, which is the standard way ti plants are propagated and sold.

Give it a warm sheltered spot and expect quick progress: most plants reach knee height in the first year and full size in two to three. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare colours across our cordyline collection.
• Read how to build a tropical garden that looks lush all year.
• Browse the wider tropical garden range.
• See more plants for balconies.

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Ti plant foliage is toxic to cats and dogs, and chewing brings on vomiting and drooling. Keep it out of reach if your pet chews leaves.

Will it survive frost?

No. It is frost tender, and even a light frost damages the foliage. In cool temperate gardens treat it as a potted plant that winters indoors or under a verandah.

Why are the leaf tips going brown?

Usually dryness, at the roots or in the air. Water more consistently through summer and move it out of direct sun or a drying breeze.

How far apart should I plant it?

Sixty centimetres apart for a massed planting. Because it is narrow and upright, closer spacing crowds the canes without giving you cover any sooner.