Ti plant

Tropical shrub to 13′.

Cordyline fruticosa

This evergreen is a flowering tropical plant commonly grown as a houseplant in temperate climates. It has stunning foliage with shades of pale pink, green, purple or deep red depending on the cultivar. It does require bright light to maintain its foliage colors. Water the plant when the top of the soil feels dry, never allowing the bottom of the pot to stand in water. Raise the humidity around the plant by placing it in a saucer filled with pebbles and water. This plant is sensitive to fluoride and may need to be watered with distilled water.

Family name previously Agavaceae

Quick ID Hints:

• Leaves have grooved petioles
• Leaves are USUALLY tinged or splashed with red

Tropical shrub to 13′.

Often confused with Dracaena spp., which have no petioles; the Ti plant is all-green and is the ‘grass’ used for hawaiian hula skirts. Prefers high light, moist soil and medium relative humidity; leaves will brown at tips if air too dry; pest problems.

• Attributes: Genus: Cordyline Species: fruticosa Family: Asparagaceae Country Or Region Of Origin: Australia and Papua New Guinea

• Whole Plant Traits: Plant Type: Houseplant Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics: Broadleaf Evergreen

• Cultural Conditions: Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) Soil Drainage: Good Drainage Moist

• Fruit: Fruit Type: Berry Fruit Description: A small berry.

• Flowers: Flower Inflorescence: Panicle Flower Description: A terminal panicle. White or tinged yellow or red, radially symmetric, 6 tepals united at base to form tube, lobes reflexed.

• Leaves: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics: Broadleaf Evergreen Leaf Color: Green Pink Purple/Lavender Red/Burgundy Variegated Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Shape: Lanceolate Oblong Hairs Present: No Leaf Length: > 6 inches Leaf Description: Crowded, simple, oblong-lanceolate, 1-2′ x 2-4″, green or tinged purple or red; petiole grooved.

• Stem: Stem Is Aromatic: No Stem Description: Clustered, erect, branched or unbranched.

• Landscape: Landscape Location: Container Houseplants Problems: Problem for Cats Problem for Dogs Problem for Horses

• Poisonous to Humans: Poison Severity: Low Poison Symptoms: Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats) Poison Toxic Principle: Saponins Causes Contact Dermatitis: No

Cordyline fruticosa

NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

N.C. Cooperative Extension prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status.

Ti plant

Cordyline (Ti plants)

• ​Common name: Ti plant, palm lily, cabbage palm, cordyline
• Scientific name: Cordyline, species names include Cordyline fructiosa and Cordyline australis
• Family name: Asparagaceae
• Origin: Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand
• Height: Varies between species, most tend to be around 3 ft tall
• Width: Varies between species, most tend to be about 2-4 ft wide
• Growth: Slow
• Zone: 8-12
• Light needs: Full sun to part shade
• Salt tolerance: Moderate
• Soil/pH/Texture: Prefers moist yet well-drained soil, can live in a variety of soil types; mildly acidic to mildly alkaline (pH 6.1-7.8)
• Moisture: Average water needs, should be watered when the soil becomes dry
• Drought tolerance: High
• Pests/Diseases: Very resistant to pests and diseases
• Growing conditions: Should be grown in a fertile, moist, well-drained area. It should be in a bright area with filtered, indirect sunlight. Will do well in the ground or in a container; makes a great houseplant. Should be fed with a slow-release fertilizer about every six months. It is susceptible to cold temperatures, so it is best to plant it when there is no risk of frost.
• Characteristics: Leaves can vary in shape, size, and color, but tend to be long and glossy and either magenta or green. Leaves grow out radially from the stem, which is woody. Many species may have multicolored leaves or colored bands that run down the leaves. Flowers vary between species but tend to grow off a scape that grows from the center of the plant. The flowers grow in clusters and tend to be pink or white, and may be fragrant.
• Propagation: By cuttings or by seeds
• Wildlife: Flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
• Facts: The name “cordyline” comes from the Greek word kordyle, translating to “club”, which is a reference to the enlarged rhizomes of the plant.
• Designer considerations: Good as an accent plant in sunny areas or in containers, as a houseplant or as an outdoor plant.

Cordyline (Ti plants)

Pavilion, Walkways and Garden Areas