Burgundy red, sword-like leaves make this an outstanding choice. Use as a focal point in the landscape or in large containers surrounded by bright flowered perennials and silver foliage. Fragrant white flowers top the stems in early summer. Moderate growing 8 to 10 ft. tall, 5 ft. wide. Full to partial sun. Evergreen.
It is important to keep the soil continuously moist. Reduce watering during the winter and water your plant whenever the soil surface starts to feel dry.
Cordyline needs bright light, but avoid direct sunlight in unhabituated plants. Also, green-leaved cordyline tends to do best with direct light, while those with other colored leaves may prefer bright indirect or filtered sunlight.
These plants can be fed in the spring with slow-release pellets. You can feed the plant weekly during the growing season with a liquid 20-20-20 fertilizer at half-strength. Do not fertilize during the winter.
Cordyline needs a rich, well-drained high-quality potting mix with a pH of 6 to 6.5. If you move the plant outdoors during warmer months, make sure the outdoor soil drains well and any threat of frost has passed. Outdoor plants also need to be well secured; with its large leaves, they can catch in the wind and topple over.
Cordyline thrives in temperatures above 62 degrees Fahrenheit and prefers a high humidity environment. Avoid putting the plant near a cold draft like a window, especially if the temperature drops lower than 62 degrees Fahrenheit. These are jungle plants, so if you're experiencing leaf drop, try raising both the temperature and humidity.
