Cordyline fruticosa Rubra

Cordyline 'Rubra' (Cordyline fruticosa 'Rubra') is the deep burgundy ti plant used to put permanent colour into a tropical garden without waiting for anything to flower. It grows to about 2m tall and 1m wide on slim upright canes, with broad glossy leaves in wine red and near black tones that hold all year. The flowers are insignificant: the foliage does the work, in shade where most colourful plants will not perform.

Why you'll love it

• Year round colour without flowers. Deep burgundy foliage carries a bed through every season, which no flowering shrub can manage.
• Upright and narrow. At roughly 2m by 1m it adds height in a bed or a pot without spreading sideways.
• It performs in part shade. Colour holds under filtered light, so shaded courtyards and covered patios can still have something dramatic in them.
• Made for humid heat. Humidity tolerant and heat tolerant, so it handles a northern summer that flattens most feature plants.

Where it works best

Poolside and courtyards. It does not drop the litter many broadleaf plants do, and the upright form suits narrow pool surrounds and balconies where floor space is tight.

Pots and feature planting. A 300mm or larger pot suits a single plant. Three canes of different heights look fuller, and container growing holds it nearer 1.5m.

Mass planting. Set plants about 1m apart, matching their mature width, for a solid block of burgundy, or tighten to 700mm to close the planting in a season.

Growing Cordyline Rubra in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade to filtered light gives the richest colour; hot afternoon sun bleaches and scorches the leaves. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It is frost tender, so in cool districts grow it in a pot that moves under cover, or indoors near a bright window.

Soil. Rich, free draining and high in organic matter. Work compost through the bed and mulch 75mm deep, off the canes. In pots use a quality mix with added perlite, since a cordyline in cold sodden mix drops its lower leaves.

Water and feed. Keep the soil evenly moist through the warm months and ease back over winter. It is not drought tolerant. Feed a controlled release fertiliser in early spring and mid summer.

Pruning. Remove spent lower leaves by hand as they yellow. If a plant grows tall and bare at the base, cut a cane back to any height and it reshoots below the cut, often with two or three heads.

What to expect when it arrives

This cordyline is grown in six sizes: 125mm and 140mm in packs of 10, 180mm and 200mm in packs of 6, 250mm in a pack of 3, and 300mm singles. The packs exist because it is most often used in numbers. The 300mm plants can go straight into a decorative pot.

Some lower leaf loss after transit is normal, not a fault; colour returns as new leaves push from the crown. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. One honest caution: cordyline foliage contains saponins and is toxic to dogs and cats if chewed.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to use cordylines in a garden design
• Compare the full cordyline range
• Browse plants suited to poolside gardens
• See the wider tropical plant range

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. The leaves contain saponins and are toxic to dogs and cats if eaten, typically causing drooling, vomiting and loss of appetite. Plant it out of reach if your pet chews foliage.

Why are the leaf tips going brown?

Almost always water related, either too little at the roots or salt building up in a pot that never drains freely. Water deeply, flush pots occasionally, and trim damaged tips.

Can I grow it indoors?

Yes, in a bright spot with indirect light, the practical option in frost prone southern gardens. Keep it away from cold draughts and heaters, and let the mix dry slightly between waterings.