Red Sensation Cordyline

Red Sensation Cordyline (Cordyline australis 'Red Sensation') is the upright burgundy spike that gives a garden vertical structure without taking up ground. It reaches about 3.5m tall and only 1.5m across, holding a dense head of deep wine red strap leaves on a single clean trunk. It is frost hardy, salt tolerant and wind tolerant, which is an unusual set of credentials for a plant that looks this tropical.

Why you'll love it

• Tall and narrow. At 3.5m by 1.5m it adds height in a narrow bed or a side passage where a shrub would crowd the space.
• Deep burgundy year round. The colour holds through winter rather than fading, and it lifts plain green foliage.
• Coastal and exposed sites. Salt and wind tolerant, so it stands up on a beachfront block where softer feature plants shred.
• Fragrant flowers, then birds. Sprays of scented cream flowers on mature plants, followed by small berries the birds work through.
• Almost no maintenance. No pruning regime, no staking, no spraying. Pull off the old leaves and that is it.

Where it works best

Feature planting. One plant as a full stop at the end of a bed, or three staggered at about 1.5m apart for a repeated vertical rhythm along a fence.

Poolside and courtyards. The narrow habit suits tight paved areas. Be aware it sheds old leaves as the trunk lifts, so expect to pick up rather than never sweep.

Coastal gardens and pots. A front line coastal plant. A 400mm or larger pot holds one for years and keeps it to around 2m.

Growing Red Sensation Cordyline in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the deepest burgundy. In shade the colour drifts towards bronze green and the head loosens. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and is frost hardy once established, so cold southern districts are fine after the first two winters.

Soil. Free draining above all else. Sandy coastal soils suit it perfectly. On heavy clay, plant on a raised mound, because wet feet through winter is the one thing that reliably kills it.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells, since it is genuinely drought tolerant once the roots are down. A slow release fertiliser in early spring keeps the colour strong. Overwatering causes more losses than neglect.

Pruning. None required. Strip the browned lower leaves by hand to expose the trunk. Cutting the top off a stem makes it branch into several heads, worth knowing if you want a fuller shape.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in four sizes: tube, 140mm in packs of ten, 200mm in packs of six, and single 300mm pots. Tube and 140mm plants arrive as small rosettes with no trunk yet, and are the value choice for a group planting. The 300mm plants give an immediate result in a pot.

Cordylines travel well: tough leaves, compact root ball. Some outer leaf tips may brown in transit, which trims off. Growth is fast in warm weather, and a trunk begins to form in the second or third year. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Using cordylines in the garden
• Browse the full cordyline range
• Planning a coastal feature garden
• Compare plants for poolside positions

Common questions

Can I keep it smaller than 3.5m?

Yes. A pot naturally restricts it to around 2m. In the ground, cutting the top off the trunk makes it branch into several heads at that height, which is the usual way to control it.

Why are the lower leaves going brown?

That is normal. Cordylines shed their oldest leaves as the trunk extends, so browning at the bottom while the top stays clean is the plant working as designed. Pull the dead leaves off by hand.

Is it safe around dogs?

No. Cordyline is listed as toxic to dogs, and chewing the leaves can cause drooling, vomiting and loss of appetite. Plant it where a dog that chews plants cannot get at the foliage.