Cordyline rubra
red-fruited palm lily
Eastern Australia (Queensland and New South Wales)
Overview
Cordyline rubra is an evergreen, palm-like shrub that grows on one or a few erect cane-like stems reaching 3-13 feet (0.9-4 m) tall and 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m) wide. Broad lance-shaped leaves 12-20 inches (30-50 cm) long and 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) wide cluster toward the stem tips on grooved petioles, dark glossy green above and paler beneath. Branched flower panicles 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) long carry many small mauve to lilac flowers in spring and summer. These are followed by rounded, shiny red berries about 0.3 inch (8 mm) across that ripen through autumn and draw fruit-eating birds. The species grows naturally in the shaded understorey of subtropical and warm-temperate rainforest on moist, humus-rich soils. It needs shelter from frost, which kills the foliage below about 28F (-2C), and from hot afternoon sun, which scorches the leaves. Old stems become bare at the base over time and reshoot after renewal pruning. All parts contain saponins that are toxic to dogs and cats if eaten.
Native Range
Cordyline rubra is native to eastern Australia, from northeastern Queensland south into northeastern New South Wales. It grows in the understorey of subtropical and dry rainforest and along shaded creek margins.Suggested Uses
Planted in shaded and tropical-style gardens, courtyards, and as an understorey planting beneath taller trees. Grown in containers on sheltered patios and indoors in bright, indirect light. Spaced 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 m) apart in group plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 13'
Width/Spread3' - 5'
Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years
Bloom Information
Branched panicles of small mauve to lilac flowers open in spring and summer. The flowers are followed by glossy red berries that ripen through autumn and persist into winter. Flowering is heavier on plants grown in bright, indirect light than in deep shade.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Mauve to lilacFoliage Description
Dark glossy greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-5 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Cordyline rubra grows in part to full shade in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. It needs steady moisture through the warm months and tolerates short dry spells once established, though leaf tips brown in prolonged drought. Cold hardiness is limited to about USDA zones 10-11, with foliage damaged below 28F (-2C). Hot direct afternoon sun scorches the leaves, so a sheltered, shaded position suits it. An annual mulch of leaf litter maintains the humus-rich conditions it grows in naturally.Pruning
Bare or leggy stems can be cut back to about 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) in spring, after which they reshoot from the base. Removing one or two old stems each year keeps a clump leafy to the ground. Spent flower panicles can be trimmed once the berries finish.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early springlate spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 7 gallons