How to Grow and Care for Cordylines

The ti plant is a palm-like shrub that symbolizes the connection between the living and the dead for some Austronesian cultures, having many ceremonial purposes. In practical terms, ti plant is used to make dyes and is grown for ornamentation.

Cabbage tree (*Cordyline australis*) is a subtropical palm-like tree that thrives in environments with fertile, well-drained soil. Salt and drought tolerant, they are ideal for sunny borders or containers. The cabbage tree blooms in late spring to early summer with small, fragrant white flowers. It's not an unusual sight in city courtyards and coastal gardens.

Slender palm lily is an evergreen shrub native to Australia. It grows in coastal areas and rainforests, but is often cultivated for its foliage, dark pink flowers, and black fruit. This shrub grows well in sun or shade, but is not frost-tolerant.

Forest cabbage tree is found in many different conditions, but it thrives in wet areas like swamps. In the past, European settlers actually used the trunk of this tree as a chimney due to its potent fire resistance.

It forms a stout tree up to 8 m tall, with a trunk from 41 to 79 cm in diameter. The stem is usually unbranched, or has very few branches. The leaves are 99 to 201 cm long, and from 10 to 30 cm wide. The foliage, which droops with age, is blue-green and shaped like a broad sword, with a broad and conspicuous midrib which is often tinged red, orange red or golden. The inflorescence is a panicle that arises from the base of the growing points underneath the leaves.