<em>Cordyline</em> spp.

With its rich colors and multiple leaf shapes, cordyline has become a popular nursery crop. Color variations include red, purple, green, yellow and black. Sizes range from 2 feet high up to 15 feet high. This versatile plant works well in container combinations, peppered throughout the garden or in a mass planting.

Cordyline is easy to grow and typically grows quickly for faster turns.

Southern Splendor‘Southern Splendor’
ForemostCo sells C. australis ‘Southern Splendor’ rooted liners. Transplant liners into a well-drained growing medium with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Plants can be grown pot tight in the early stages, and it is possible to finish the crop with this spacing. Space the plants halfway through the production cycle to allow the foliage to spread. Maintain temperatures between 60°F-85°F. Plants will continue to grow at lower temperatures of 50°F nights and 70°F days. Plants should be grown in high light (3,000 footcandles). Optimum light level is 55 percent shade. Growth can be pushed using a 20-20-20 weekly liquid fertilizer. A regular watering schedule is best, but don’t keep the growing medium overly wet.

‘Cardinal’
This C. australis from Ball Ornamentals is available as liners from Ball’s supplier network. ‘Cardinal’ exhibits a clumping habit as a young plant from the soil level, which provides a multi-trunk presentation. It grows up to 4 feet high. Tips of the glossy, red foliage are gently pendulous and leaves have semi-drooping soft tips.
Use a well-drained, soilless medium with a pH of 5.5-6.2. Optimum production temperatures range from 55°F-75°F. Allow the medium to dry slightly between watering and apply 200 parts per million nitrogen once a week.

‘Mocha Latte’
C. terminalis ‘Mocha Latte’ from Hort Couture works great indoors and out, said Jim Monroe, owner of Hort Couture. Chocolate-brown leaves are suffused with red overtones as they mature and skirted by creamy margins. This dramatic variety adds drama to a container combination or makes a bold statement as a stand-alone plant. It grows up to 3 feet tall and grows best in full sun or part shade.

‘Red Star’
Magnolia Gardens Nursery in Magnolia, Texas, grows ‘Red Star’ (C. australis). It features dark burgundy-red foliage and grows to about 36 inches tall. It looks great in a combo pot with Ipomoea ‘Marguerite’ or ‘Tri-Color,’ said April Herring, tissue culture production manager. ‘Red Star’ needs good light to maintain it’s dark color, and don’t let it dry out between watering.

For more: ForemostCo, www.foremostco.com. Ball Ornamentals, www.ballornamentals.com. Hort Couture, www.hortcoutureplants.com. Magnolia Gardens, www.magnoliagardensnursery.com.