Dr. Brown Cordyline

Dr. Brown Cordyline (Cordyline fruticosa 'Dr. Brown') carries broad strappy leaves washed in bronze, chocolate and pink, an unusual colour range in a plant this easy to grow. It reaches about 2m tall on a narrow 1m footprint, so it gives height and colour in a bed where a shrub would take too much room.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage colour that lasts all year. The bronze and pink tones are permanent, so it never depends on a flowering window.
• Upright and space efficient. It fills a vertical gap between a fence and a path without spreading into the lawn.
• Very little work. Slow growing and low maintenance: no shaping, no staking, no pest routine worth the name.
• Coastal and humid tolerant. Salt air and steamy northern summers suit it, which makes it reliable in beachside and tropical gardens.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A single clump works as a colour accent against a green backdrop, or in a courtyard corner where the foliage catches afternoon light.

Mass planting. Plant 60cm apart for a bold block of colour: the clumps overlap slightly and read as one drift rather than a row.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A pot 350mm or wider holds it for several years, and container growing slows it further.

Growing Dr. Brown Cordyline in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade to filtered light gives the richest colour, while harsh afternoon sun bleaches and burns the leaves. This is a plant for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens only, and it is frost tender.

Soil. Rich, free draining soil with plenty of organic matter. Work compost through the bed before planting and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Keep the root zone moist through the first summer, then water deeply once or twice a week in warm weather. Feed a controlled release fertiliser in early spring and mid summer to keep new leaves well coloured.

Grooming. No pruning is needed. Cut old lower leaves off at the stem as they brown. If it grows leggy over the years, cut the cane back hard in spring and it reshoots from the base.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes: 200mm pots in packs of six, 250mm pots in packs of three, and single 300mm plants. The 250mm and 300mm sizes are currently on backorder. At 60cm spacing a pack of six 200mm plants covers roughly three metres of bed.

Some leaf marking after transit is cosmetic rather than a fault, and new growth replaces it. Expect a month or so of settling before fresh leaves appear. 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 through the garden
• Compare the full cordyline range
• Browse plants for tropical climates
• Other plants with variegated foliage

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Cordyline fruticosa is toxic to cats and dogs if the leaves are chewed, bringing on drooling, vomiting and loss of appetite. Site it away from a pet that grazes on foliage, or grow it in a raised pot.

Why is the colour fading?

Usually too much sun or too little feed. Harsh afternoon sun bleaches the bronze tones out, so move the plant into filtered light and feed it in spring.

Will it grow in a cool climate?

Not in the open ground. It is frost tender and needs a tropical, subtropical or warm temperate garden, so in cooler districts keep it potted and move it under cover or indoors for winter.