Download Cordyline fruticosa

Botanical Name
Common Name
Cordyline fruticosa
False Palm, Good Luck Plant,
Ti Plant, Cordyline
Local Name
Family
Area Of Origin
Flowering
Fruiting
Dry / wet
Sun / shade
Altitude
Mature Size
, Mak Phu Mak Mia
Liliaceae
Tropical Asia, western Pacific, north-eastern
Australia, PNG, introduced to NZ and Hawaii
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Intermediate to wet
Partial shade to sun
0-800m
Up to 4m
Description
Evergreen flowering, monocotyledonous, woody plant of the Lily
(Liliaceae) family. Bark white with big brown cracks. The Leaves
are 30–60cm long and 5–10cm wide, on the upper end of the stem,
growing in a whorl around it. Very strong fragrant, yellowish-red
flowers turn to red berries and grow in panicles of 40-60cm in
length. NOTE: Propagation from stem cuttings.
Ethno Botany
This ornamental plant has a very sweet starchy rhizome when
mature. It can be eaten and is used in medicine. Tea, can be made
from leaves, buds, or young shoots, used as a mouthwash for
bleeding gums, halitosis, and tooth and gum disease. Fermented and
distilled rhizomes are used in Hawaii to make liquor (okolehau).
Leaves can be used for decoration, roof building, to wrap, steam
and store food, split in halve, the midrib removed, good for making
clothes like the Hawaiian hula skirt, or a natural raincoat.
NOTE: Brings good luck to owner and was used to mark property
borders in Polynesian culture, where it was believed to have spiritual
power.
Animal / Plant Host
Attractive to ants and night flying insects that feed on the flower
nectar.