Cordyline fruticosa white and pale purple flowers with yellow anthers among elongated purple buds

Cordyline fruticosa (Ti plant)

Native from New Guinea and nearby islands into the western Pacific, this plant is an evergreen shrub or small tree reaching about twelve feet tall. Its upright woody stems carry clusters of glossy, pointed leaves on grooved stalks. Cultivated forms range from green to pink, red and deep purple, often with contrasting stripes or margins. Older leaves fall and leave ringlike scars on the stems. Branched flower clusters bear small white, pinkish or pale lavender flowers with six tepals joined into a tube at the base. Rounded red berries follow flowering. Long cultivated throughout the tropics, the plant was brought to Hawaii by early Polynesian settlers. Its flexible leaves are used for food wrapping, hula skirts, fans and lei. Photographed in Colombia, Ecuador and Florida.

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Pink and dark red Cordyline fruticosa leaves on plants lining a garden path

Cordyline fruticosa pale purple flowers and buds with yellow anthers on a red flower branch

Cordyline fruticosa pale purple flowers with white filaments and yellow anthers along a reddish branch

Cordyline fruticosa upright reddish flower branch with purple buds and open pale flowers

Cordyline fruticosa pale purple flower with projecting white filaments and yellow anthers beside purple buds

Cordyline fruticosa stems with dark purple leaves, pink margins and copper-colored new growth

Cordyline fruticosa broad, arching red leaves beneath an upright branched cluster of flower buds

Cordyline fruticosa branching plant with clusters of red, purple and pink leaves

Cordyline fruticosa tall, ring-scarred stems topped with clusters of red and purple leaves

Cordyline fruticosa pointed leaves striped with green, cream, pink and red

Cordyline fruticosa plants with broad red and burgundy leaves

Cordyline fruticosa long, pointed leaves striped with red, pink and green

Cordyline fruticosa dark red leaves beneath a branched reddish cluster of flower buds

A child wearing sunglasses stands among red-leaved Cordyline fruticosa plants