Red Star Cordyline

Red Star Cordyline (Cordyline australis 'Red Star') is the upright burgundy accent that keeps its shape where softer plants get knocked about. In a garden it settles at around 3.5m tall and only 1.5m wide, a narrow spiky fountain of deep bronze red foliage on a clean trunk. Unlike the tropical cordylines it is frost hardy, drought tolerant and at home in salt wind.

Why you'll love it

• Tall and narrow by nature. About 3.5m of height in a 1.5m spread, so it delivers vertical structure in a bed too tight for a tree.
• Burgundy foliage all year. The colour is in the leaf rather than a flower, so there is no off season and nothing to wait for.
• It stands up to weather. Frost hardy, wind tolerant and salt tolerant, from a cool southern courtyard to an exposed beachside block.
• Fragrant flowers on mature plants. Established specimens throw large sprays of small cream flowers with a strong sweet scent.

Where it works best

Feature and architectural planting. A single plant works as a full stop at the end of a bed, or a matched pair at an entry, reading well against rendered walls.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A pot 500mm or wider suits it, and container growing holds it around 2m rather than 3.5m. Its wind tolerance is why it survives high balconies.

Poolside and coastal gardens. Salt tolerance and a low litter habit make it a sensible pool surround plant.

A caution for pet owners. The foliage contains saponins and is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so it is not the pick for a bed a puppy grazes in.

Growing Red Star Cordyline in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the deepest burgundy colour; in shade the foliage runs greener and the plant grows looser. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and mediterranean gardens and is frost hardy once established. It is not the pick for the humid wet tropics.

Soil. Free draining above all else. Sandy and gravelly soils are ideal and poor soil is no obstacle. On heavy clay plant on a raised mound, because waterlogging is what kills them.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then let it fend for itself in most temperate districts. A controlled release fertiliser in early spring keeps the leaf colour strong; overfeeding produces soft floppy growth.

Pruning. None needed. Pull the spent lower leaves away by hand as they brown, since they hang on and look untidy. For a multi headed plant, cut the top off and it will branch.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in four sizes: tube stock, 140mm pots in packs of ten, 200mm pots in packs of six, and single 300mm pots. Tube and 140mm plants are young rosettes with no trunk yet, the value choice if you are massing several. A 300mm plant already carries a proper head of foliage.

One honest note on size: you will see this species quoted at 10m, but that describes wild trees in its New Zealand habitat. In an Australian garden expect 3m to 4m. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Designing a garden around cordylines
• Compare the full cordyline range
• Shop salt tolerant plants for coastal gardens
• Browse architectural plants for designed gardens

Common questions

How tall does it really get in a garden?

Around 3.5m tall and 1.5m wide is realistic for an Australian garden. The 10m figure sometimes quoted refers to mature trees in habitat, not a suburban bed or a courtyard pot.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. The leaves contain saponins, toxic to cats and dogs if eaten and the cause of drooling and vomiting. Plant it where a chewing pet cannot reach the lower foliage.

Can I keep one in a pot permanently?

Yes, and it is one of the better plants for the job. Use a pot 500mm or wider with sharp drainage, and expect about 2m rather than 3.5m.