New Conga Cordyline

New Conga Cordyline (Cordyline fruticosa 'New Conga') is grown for foliage rather than flowers: broad strappy leaves in pink and burgundy on an upright plant of about 1.5m tall and 1m wide. It brings colour to a shaded courtyard where flowering shrubs sulk, and it holds that colour every month of the year.

Why you'll love it

• Colour without flowers. Pink and burgundy leaves carry the display all year, so there is no waiting for a flowering season.
• Upright and space efficient. At 1.5m tall by 1m wide it fits a narrow bed beside a path, a pool fence or a wall.
• Low maintenance. No spraying schedule and no shaping. Remove spent lower leaves once or twice a year and it looks after itself.
• Better colour in part shade. It does not need full sun, which makes it useful on the shaded side of a house.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. A pot 400mm or wider suits one plant, and cordylines are among the more forgiving plants for a container because they tolerate being root bound.

Mass planting. Set plants 60cm apart for a bold mass planting. At that spacing the leaves overlap and the bed reads as a single sweep of colour rather than a row of individuals.

Feature planting and courtyards. A single plant against a pale rendered wall or beside a doorway does the job of a much larger shrub.

One caveat: cordyline contains saponins and is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so think twice in a home with a pet that grazes on foliage.

Growing New Conga Cordyline in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade to filtered light gives the richest colour. This is a plant for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It is frost tender, so cool temperate and frost prone inland gardens should grow it in a pot that can move under cover.

Soil. Free draining and rich in organic matter. Work compost through the bed at planting and mulch 50mm deep, clear of the stem.

Water and feed. Keep the moisture steady through the warm months, particularly in pots, where drying out shows quickly as brown leaf margins. Feed a controlled release fertiliser in early spring and again in mid summer for the strongest leaf colour.

Pruning. None is needed. Pull or cut away tired lower leaves to reveal the stem, and if a plant grows leggy, cut the cane back hard in spring and it will reshoot from below the cut.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes. The 140mm plants come in packs of ten and the 200mm in packs of six, both ideal for a mass planting where you need numbers. Single 300mm plants are the choice for a pot or a feature position, arriving already showing their colour.

Cordyline foliage is soft, so expect a few creased or marked leaves after transit; they can be removed and the plant recovers within a fortnight. New growth follows in four to six weeks in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the full cordyline care guide
• Compare varieties in the cordyline collection
• Browse companions in the tropical plant range
• See other options for balconies and courtyards

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Cordyline leaves contain saponins, toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, causing drooling, vomiting and lethargy. Keep it out of reach of a pet that chews plants.

Why is the colour fading?

Too much direct sun bleaches the pinks out, and very deep shade turns the leaves green. Bright filtered light or gentle morning sun gives the best result.

Can I grow it indoors?

Yes, in a bright spot near a window, though colour is usually stronger outdoors in filtered light. Keep it away from air conditioning, which dries the leaf tips.