Cordyline petiolaris

palm lily
Lush leafy shrub resembles ti plant but hardier, faster-growing, cool-tolerant. Bare branches and trunks with leaves held on long stems. Brilliant red berries follow white to purple flowers.
Cordyline petiolaris
height 6–10ft
width 3–6ft
tolerates Coast, Cool Summers, Fog, Pots
water
needs		 Low – Moderate
water
info		 Cordylines are surprisingly drought tolerant once established, though they will look their best with deep watering every week or two. Having good drainage is important with cordylines, which will also makes them quite tolerant of overwatering.
hardy
to		 28F
exposure Full Shade – Part Shade
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing All Purpose
origin N Australia
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 16, 17, 19–22

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

Growing Notes

Cordylines are versatile in the garden. These upright cordylines have a clean vertical form, but also respond well to a hard pruning back (even all the way to the ground) and will send new growth out wherever they are cut back. By cutting multiple canes at different levels you can get a nice staggered effect and maximize screening.
Once the older lower leaves dry up they can be pulled cleanly away, exposing a textured trunk.
Cordylines are an excellent choice for a pot, where they are low-maintenance plants for the long term.
In particularly windy conditions cordylines may develop brown frayed tips.

Special Interest

The species name petiolaris refers to this plants long thin leaf stems. This leaf stem is called the petiole.