Red Sister ti plant

Sun

Bright filtered light or partial shade, with gentle morning sun. Protect from strong afternoon sun, especially in hot, dry climates; deep shade reduces leaf colour.

Water

Keep evenly moist during active growth, but never waterlogged. Let the surface begin to dry between waterings; water less in winter without allowing the root ball to dry out completely.

Soil

Fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil, preferably slightly acidic. In containers, use a moisture-retentive potting mix with added drainage material.

Height

4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m), sometimes taller in tropical gardens

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Foliage

Evergreen. Broad, pointed leaves with vivid pink new growth, maturing to burgundy and reddish green with pink streaks and margins. Leaves cluster toward the ends of upright, cane-like stems.

Growth

Moderate in warm conditions; slow in cool weather or low light.

Care needed

Medium

• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.1 ft (0.65 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.7 ft (0.81 m)

4. After 3 years

   3 ft (0.96 m)

5. After 5 years

   4 ft (1.3 m)

About 7 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Native to

Australia

Growth rate

Slow

• Water when the soil surface starts to dry, and empty container saucers after watering.
• Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength monthly during spring and summer; stop feeding during cool, low-light months.
• Mulch outdoor plants with organic matter, keeping mulch clear of the stems.
• Shelter from drying winds and maintain reasonable indoor humidity without leaving foliage constantly wet.
• Move pots indoors before nights regularly fall below 50°F (10°C), and keep them away from cold glass and heating vents.

Pruning. Remove dead or badly damaged leaves at their base as needed. In spring, shorten leggy stems just above a node to encourage new shoots, leaving some leafy stems intact while the plant recovers.

Spring

Repot crowded plants, trim leggy stems and begin light feeding as growth resumes.

Late spring

Move overwintered pots outside only once nights remain above 50°F (10°C); acclimatise them gradually in shade.

Summer

Check container moisture frequently, feed monthly and watch leaf undersides for mites and mealybugs.

Late summer

Check for roots filling the pot and take stem cuttings while conditions remain warm.

Autumn

In cool climates, inspect for pests and bring pots into bright indoor light before chilly nights arrive.

Winter

Keep warm and bright, stop feeding and reduce watering without drying the root ball completely.

• Use as an upright colour accent in a large patio container with green foliage plants below.
• Plant small groups against dark green shrubs in frost-free, sheltered borders to make the pink foliage stand out.
• Combine with broad-leaved tropical plants and ferns for contrasting leaf shapes in partial shade.
• Place containers beside a sheltered entrance or courtyard seating area, allowing room for the leaves to spread.

Garden styles it suits: Modern tropical, Tropical, Luxury resort, Modern courtyard, Balinese and Small-space.

Plant it with: Bromeliads, Bird's nest fern, Elephant ears, Coleus, New Guinea impatiens and Shell ginger.

Wildlife: Offers some shelter for small animals in tropical gardens, but is not a major wildlife plant. Flowers are uncommon on container-grown plants, so its value to pollinators is limited in that setting.

• Spider mites cause fine stippling and webbing, especially indoors: rinse leaf undersides and treat persistent infestations with insecticidal soap according to the label.
• Mealybugs and scale gather on stems and leaf bases: isolate affected pots, remove visible pests and use a labelled treatment, repeating as directed.
• Brown leaf tips can result from dry air, irregular watering or mineral accumulation: correct watering, flush the pot periodically and try rainwater if tap water is high in fluoride or salts.
• Root rot develops in persistently wet soil: improve drainage, empty saucers and repot into fresh mix after removing rotten roots.

Toxic to cats and dogs if chewed or eaten; leaves and other plant parts contain saponins that can cause drooling, vomiting and loss of appetite. Contact a veterinarian after ingestion. Safety for horses is not well established, so keep it out of their reach. It is not generally considered poisonous to people, but sap may irritate sensitive skin; do not treat this ornamental cultivar as a food plant.

• Red cabbage palm (Cordyline australis 'Red Star')

  Has much narrower, stiff, sword-like leaves in dense heads and is substantially more cold-tolerant; 'Red Sister' has broader, softer leaves with conspicuous pink colouring.

• Madagascar dragon tree (Dracaena marginata)

  Has very narrow leaves, usually green with thin red margins, on slender woody stems rather than broad pink-and-burgundy leaves.

• Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)

  Has thicker, leathery leaves, often marked with yellow or orange veins, on branching stems rather than the cane-like growth and clustered leaves of a ti plant.

Cordyline comes from the Greek word kordyle, meaning club, referring to the swollen underground stems, while fruticosa means shrubby.

Propagation. Take tip cuttings or sections of healthy cane in spring or summer. Root in a moist, airy propagation mix with warmth and high humidity; keep cane sections the right way up. Seed does not reliably reproduce 'Red Sister'.

Accepted botanical name

Cordyline fruticosa

In the US and Canada

Native in Pacific Basin. Introduced in Hawaii, Pacific Basin and Puerto Rico.

Native range

Bismarck Archipelago, Caroline Is., Fiji, Marianas, Marshall Is., New Guinea, Queensland, Santa Cruz Is., Solomon Is., Vanuatu and Wallis-Futuna Is..

Measured

Average height 305 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.