Cordyline fruticosa (Tiplant)
Popular as a houseplant for its multicolored leaves, Cordyline fruticosa (Tiplant) is an evergreen shrub or small tree with lance-shaped leaves, up to 30 in. long (75 cm), that are bright pink to the deepest burgundy, green and cream. The leaves are spirally arranged into a fanlike shape at the stem tips. It produces panicles of scented, small flowers in summer, which are followed by red berries. Long-lived, mature plants lose their lower leaves. Adding drama year-round with its bold colors and tropical look, Tiplant introduces substance to the garden or the home. Believed to bring good luck, Tiplant is widely cultivated in Hawaiian gardens as a result of its strikingly colorful foliage, which is also used as food wrappers in Hawaiian cooking. Performing well in warm and humid, frost-free climates, it is usually grown as a houseplant in temperate climates.
- Grows up to 9-15 ft. tall (270-450 cm) and 3-8 ft. wide (90-240 cm).
- Easily grown in organic, fertile, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Needs consistently moist soils from spring to fall, but reduced watering from fall to late winter. Maintain a regular watering schedule that allows the plant to dry out slightly between waterings. Consistent fertilizing (4-6 times per year) will maintain the striking leaf colors.
- Great for beds and borders or Mediterranean gardens. Ideal as an accent plant in sunny borders or in decorative containers.
- No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for aphids, scale, spider mites and mealybugs.
- Propagate by dividing clumps and rhizomes, or from cut stems called 'logs'.
- Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
- Native of tropical Southeast Asia, eastern Australia and some Pacific islands including Hawaii.
Requirements
Hardiness | 10 – 12 |
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Heat Zones | 7 – 11 |
Climate Zones | 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2 |
Plant Type | Shrubs, Trees |
Plant Family | Cordyline |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Early,Mid,Late)Summer (Early,Mid,Late)FallWinter |
Height | 9' – 15' (270cm – 4.5m) |
Spread | 3' – 8' (90cm – 240cm) |
Spacing | 84″ – 96″ (210cm – 240cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen |
Native Plants | Australia |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers |
Garden Styles | Mediterranean Garden |