
How tall do Cordyline trees grow?
Cordyline fruticosa: This version has glossy, colorful leaves that change according to the cultivar used. Also known as Cordyline terminalis, the trunk grows straight up and can be up to 10 feet tall. 2.
Did you know there are 15 different species of cordylines?
Did you know there are about 15 different species of Cordylines? There are Cordylines that grow as tall as 5 meters (thats 16ft) and dwarf varieties that thrive in pots and only grow to approximately 2-3ft tall.
How to grow Cordyline (Ti)?
How to Grow Cordyline (Ti) Botanical Name Cordyline terminalis Common Name Cordyline, Hawaiian ti plant Plant Type Evergreen shrub Mature Size 2-4 ft. tall and wide Sun Exposure Full-sun, partial sun 7 more rows ...
Is tropical Cordyline a hardy?
Tropical cordyline is a hardy plant if you grow it in the right climate. Its many varieties are colorful and cheery, and it's an attractive low-maintenance evergreen shrub. Ti will bring color to both your indoor or outdoor garden, and it's very easy to maintain.

Are Cordyline fast growing?
Green-leaved forms are largest and fastest-growing and can reach around 5 metres high. Coloured and variegated varieties are less vigorous and rarely grow larger than 2.5-3 m high, and less when grown in containers.
How do I keep my Cordyline small?
To keep your cordyline healthy, remove lower foliage as it starts to look tired. Start from the lowest leaves and work up, and they should pull off easily. Some varieties can become very leggy (all trunk with only a little foliage up top). These can be cut back severely.
Do cordylines like sun or shade?
Cordylines are dramatic and eye-catching and yet solidly dependable garden plants which are easy to maintain and rarely suffer from pests and diseases. However, they do need a well-drained soil that is in sun or part shade.
How do I stop my Cordyline from growing too tall?
Cordylines look at their best when keeping a low profile. So when a cordyline becomes too tall and straggly for its position, take a clean, sharp pair of secateurs, shears or loppers and remove top growth, leaving about 1 foot (40 cms) of bare stem.
Do cordylines need big pots?
Cordylines need space when planted in a pot and will need to be potted into large containers for more permanent planting. Flowers can be produced on mature plants that have a delicious scent. Prune flower stems to the base when the flowering season has finished.
How long do cordylines last?
How long do Cordylines live? Cordyline australis trees in the wild have lived up to several hundred years. In very good conditions a horticultural plant can live to 50 years. Cordylines aged 20-plus years are not uncommon in established nurseries.
Do cordylines multiply?
Colin loves that cordylines are so easy to propagate. Cut the stem quite low to the ground. The original plant will reshoot and what you remove becomes the propagating material. Cut the stem into sections at least 30cm in length.
Do cordylines have deep roots?
Cordylines (aka cabbage trees) are notoriously difficult to transplant. They have fleshy roots that don't take easily to being chopped off and the roots go down farther than you'd imagine.
Should I cut the brown tips off my cordyline?
Follow the tips above ie clear the brown leaves, cut off any soft rotten trunk but wait to do this until early summer because if it has been killed off completely by the cold it might reshoot from the base. Hope these tips on caring for cordylines growing in the UK helps!
Should cordylines be pruned?
Cordylines are unlike conventional shrubs or palms so it can be confusing to know how to prune them, if at all. Pruning generally should be limited to removing dead leaves and spent flowers. Where plants have been hit by hard frost they should be cut back hard, as you have done, in spring.
How far do cordyline roots spread?
By age 25 years, root depths reached 1.75-2.00 m, root spread reached 3.00 m, and below-ground root biomass, including the rhizome, exceeded 50 kg or 38% of the total tree biomass.
When should I cut back my cordyline?
Wait until spring, around May. This is because Cordylines are slightly tender and the leaves offer the plant some protection from frosts, so it's best to wait until they're out of the way.
Should I trim a Cordyline?
Cordylines generally need little if any pruning, but can be quickly tidied up to keep them looking good, or cut back if they grow too large or get damaged by winter frost or gales: Cordylines naturally and gradually lose their older leaves, which can be removed to improve the plant's appearance.
Should cordylines be pruned?
Cordylines are unlike conventional shrubs or palms so it can be confusing to know how to prune them, if at all. Pruning generally should be limited to removing dead leaves and spent flowers. Where plants have been hit by hard frost they should be cut back hard, as you have done, in spring.
Should I cut the brown tips off my Cordyline?
Follow the tips above ie clear the brown leaves, cut off any soft rotten trunk but wait to do this until early summer because if it has been killed off completely by the cold it might reshoot from the base. Hope these tips on caring for cordylines growing in the UK helps!
Do cordylines have big roots?
Weather you do decide to try a transplant or plant a new tree, a mature Cordyline australis can grow between 12 to 20m in height and that's a very large root mass under the ground, so I would say plant in an area with good light and at least 4 to 5m away from any structure.
Where does Cordyline australis grow?
The most widely grown species is Cordyline australis which is native to New Zealand. It has plain green leaves, although there’s a range of cultivars with variegated, coloured or multi-coloured foliage. Green-leaved forms are largest and fastest-growing and can reach around 5 metres high. Coloured and variegated varieties are less vigorous and rarely grow larger than 2.5-3 m high, and less when grown in containers.
What is the color of Cordyline australis?
Cordyline australis – broad green leaves and fast growth habit to develop trunks and bear flowers. Cordyline australis ‘Albertii’ – multi-coloured leaves which are green, veined with red in the middle, striped with cream and edged pink. Cordyline australis ‘Purple Tower’ – a dark shade of plum-purple.
When should I prune a cordyline?
Daniel Haynes, gardenersworld.com, explains how and when to prune your cordyline, in our Quick Tips video:
How to protect cordyline plants from frost?
Cordylines can survive temperatures of around -5° C but foliage can be disfigured by cold winds and frosts. Wrapping plants for the winter protects the leaves from damage and gives protection to the growing point of the plant. Wrap plants after a dry spell of weather to avoid trapping moisture under the covering which can cause rot. Using a non-abrasive tie such as soft string, raffia or discarded nylon tights, start at the top of the trunk and wind upwards round the leaves so they are pulled upwards into a point. Then, wrap the plant in horticultural fleece – the thickest grade or ‘frost fleece’ is best. Remove the wrapping and ties in late winter when the weather starts to warm up.
What is a cordyline?
Cordyline is a bold and handsome evergreen shrub that slowly develops a tree-like form. It has a dramatic and exotic appearance with an attractive architectural shape, forming either a single trunk or multiple stems topped with dense tufts of long, narrow, leathery leaves. Cordyline is sometimes known as cabbage palm, ...
How cold does cordyline soil get?
Despite the exotic appearance of cordylines, they are reasonably hardy and can survive the winter outside in mild areas or sheltered sites outside with winter temperatures down to around -5° C. They do best in well-drained soil.
How big do green leafed sage plants get?
Green-leaved forms are largest and fastest-growing and can reach around 5 metres high. Coloured and variegated varieties are less vigorous and rarely grow larger than 2.5-3 m high, and less when grown in containers.
How do I stop my cordyline from growing too tall?
Cordylines can be long-lived plants and can easily grow to several metres tall. If yours has become too tall, you can cut it back in spring (see pruning, below).
Do cordylines grow fast?
Green-leaved forms are largest and fastest-growing and can reach around 5 metres high. Coloured and variegated varieties are less vigorous and rarely grow larger than 2.5-3 m high, and less when grown in containers.
Can you keep cordyline short?
You can chop the Cordyline back to any point you wish and new shoots will form just below the cut. I angled it slightly to let water run off and used a saw, it is incredibly easy to cut through. You could cut right down at the base and it will reshoot, almost always with multiple growing points.
How long does it take for cordyline to mature?
It takes about four years for a stem cutting to attain an acceptable size and 15 to 20 years for Cordyline to develop a trunk and grow into a tree.
Can you cut the top off a Cordyline and plant it?
Growing cordylines from cuttings Follow these steps in spring to fix a cordyline that has become leggy: Cut its top off, leaving 10–20cm of clear trunk below the last leaves. Stick this head directly into the soil or into a pot. Cut it near the ground, leaving a stump that’s at least 10cm tall.
Should I cut the brown leaves off my Cordyline?
Caring for Cordylines – What to do if your Cordyline leaves have browned off on the outside but crown is still ok: These can be left until the late Spring / early Summer months and new stems should start appearing from the inside of the plant.
How big do cordylines grow in pots?
Cordyline & pot combination It measures 53cm high and has a 30cm diameter, so will give the Cordyline australis, which is currently housed in a 2-litre pot plenty of room to grow on. It has an elevated bottom that can be filled with sand to provide a little extra stability – very useful when positioned in windy areas.
How tall should cordyline be?
A mature, well-trimmed plant should have stems of various heights, up to 3-4 feet, and be clothed in leaves to the soil level. Over time, cordylines tend toward legginess so you will want to trim back individual stems in a staggered pattern.
What zone do cordyline plants grow in?
Potting and Repotting. Overwintering. Common Pests. Back to Top. Cordyline, or ti, are common decorative plants that thrive outdoors in hardiness zones 9-12 but also make excellent houseplants. The name Cordyline originates from Greek; the word kordyle, meaning "club," is a reference to the plant's enlarged underground stems. ...
How to tell the difference between dracaena and cordyline?
Cordyline and dracaena plants are often confused because they look alike with nearly identical spikey leaves. You can tell the difference by the color roots. Cordyline plants have white roots and dracaena have orange roots. 2
Why are my cordyline leaves turning yellow?
But, if your cordyline's leaves are turning yellow, it may also mean it has a watering issue or it's getting too much sunlight. It needs indirect bright light rather than harsh rays directly on the leaves.
What does cordyline mean?
The name Cordyline originates from Greek; the word kordyle, meaning "club," is a reference to the plant's enlarged underground stems. Cordyline typically has leathery leaves shaped like a spear or lance with a variety of colors, including green, red, yellow, white, purple, and purplish-red. Caring for these plants indoors is simple ...
What zone do you plant cordyline?
Cordyline, or ti, are common decorative plants that thrive outdoors in hardiness zones 9-12 but also make excellent houseplants. The name Cordyline originates from Greek; the word kordyle, meaning "club," is a reference to ...
What is the problem with cordyline?
Cordyline is prone to some pests and problems: The most common are scale insects, spider mites, and mealybugs. All of these can be fixed with either neem oil or insecticidal soap. Ti also attracts bacterial leaf spot and root rot.
How long does it take for a cordyline to grow?
Remember that it can take around four years for a stem cutting to achieve an acceptable size and 15 to 20 years for a cordyline to form a trunk and grow into a tree. If you plan to add a cordyline in your garden, there are several reputable sources, ...
What is cordyline shrub?
Cordyline is a bold and striking shrub that steadily develops a tree-like structure. It imparts a dramatic and exotic element with its attractive shape, either forming a single trunk or multiple stems with dense clusters of narrow, elongated leathery leaves.
How cold does cordyline get in winter?
Although cordylines have an exotic appearance, they are hardy plants and can endure the winter outside in temperate areas or sheltered spaces outdoors with winter temperatures to around –5 degrees Celsius.
Where to put cordyline in yard?
Cordylines also work best in the corners of your patio or indoors in your living room. Cordyline is a bold and striking shrub that steadily develops a tree-like structure.
Can cordyline grow?
Depending on the variety of cordyline that you have and the growing conditions, it can grow to its full potential over time.
Do cordylines grow well in soil?
Cordylines thrive best in well-draining soil.
Do cordyline plants like sun?
The varieties with green leaves thrive best under the full sun, while those with colored leaves do best in minimally shaded areas. . Ensure that you protect them from cold winds, except in mild seaside areas where cordyline thrives best and is tolerant of the salty winds.
Growing Cordylines: What are the perfect growing conditions?
Every plant has certain conditions that need fulfilling if you want to get the most out of them. For Cordylines, you don’t need to fulfil a lot of conditions as they are fairly easy to grow.
How to plant a Cordyline in the ground
When it comes to planting Cordylines, it is the same process as any other shrub. Dig a hole around the same depth of the root ball and twice as wide. Add plenty of well-rotted manure or compost to the bottom of the hole and mix in well.
Cordyline care
Once fully established, Cordylines grown in the garden require very little care or watering, however, they can benefit from occasion pruning and feeding, which I will discuss below.
Where does cordyline grow?
The cordyline plant is native to southeast Asia, eastern Australia, Hawaii, and other Pacific islands.
What is cordyline plant?
What Is Cordyline? Cordyline ( Cordyline fruticosa ), also known as the Ti plant, grows leathery, spear-shaped leaves in a variety of colors. The leaves of the evergreen shrub can be green, red, yellow, white, purple, or purplish-red. Some varieties of the cordyline plant bloom white, pink, or lavender flowers with berries in the early summer.
What is a Cordyline Red Sister?
Cordyline Red Sister: The Hawaiian Ti plant, or Red Ti, is recognizable for its dark green and deep pink leaves and was commonly called the good luck plant. The Red Ti thrives best in tropical climates with regular watering and moist soil when planted outdoors.
What is the best way to plant cordyline?
There are a few things to know before planting cordyline in your home or back garden. Find sunlight: Whether you’re outdoors or planting cordyline inside, the sun is the first consideration. The outdoor cordyline plant needs full sun while the indoor cordyline varieties need a bright spot, but not direct sunlight.
What pests are on cordyline?
Cordyline plants are subject to pests like plant scale, spider mites, and mealybugs at the base of the plant. Spray the cordyline every week or so with an insecticide in order to curb the pests. The water you use might affect cordyline as well.
How big does a red star plant get?
It only grows up to 3 feet with no trunk and its green leaves look like grass to the untrained eye. Cordyline Australis: The Red Star plant has large, pointed red leaves that arrange in a circle as well as white flowers that bloom in early summer.
How to propagate cordyline?
To propagate cordyline, you simply need to cut 3- to 5-inch sections from the stems of a mature cordyline. Then, prune the leaves from the cutting and place them in a layer of sand. The eyes of the stems will then grow shoots. When the shoots have at least four leaves, you can repot them.
