Cordyline spp.

A bold evergreen with striking sword-like leaves ranging from deep burgundy to variegated green and pink. It adds drama and tropical flair to beds and containers with fragrant flower spikes appearing from May to August.

Cordyline grows actively through spring and autumn in the Mediterranean climate, slowing during the hottest weeks of summer and during cold spells below 0°C. Most ornamental varieties are derived from C. australis and C. fruticosa, with sword-like leaves in green, bronze, burgundy, pink-striped or variegated forms forming a fountain-like crown atop a single or multi-stemmed trunk. Mature plants produce panicles of small fragrant cream flowers in early summer. The species and green forms are hardy to -8°C; coloured cultivars to -3°C and prefer protected positions. All forms tolerate drought, salt spray, container culture and reflected heat from walls and paving.

Cordyline reaches 1.5–4 m tall depending on cultivar, with a strong vertical architectural form that suits modern Mediterranean design. Use single specimens as exclamation points in dry borders, in pairs flanking pool decks or front steps, or massed for a tropical-feel screen along property boundaries. The dark burgundy 'Red Star' is particularly striking against pale stucco and the silver foliage of Olea europaea, Salvia rosmarinus and Westringia; the pink-striped 'Electric Pink' brings strong colour to predominantly green plantings. Excellent in large terracotta pots on terraces and roof gardens, where the upright form complements low spreading succulents and the architectural lines of contemporary buildings.