Cordyline Stricta
Cordyline Stricta And Its Relatives
The Cordyline stricta is a tender perennial, a tall narrow plant growing to a height of from 8 to 15 feet, and native to Australia. It is a member of the genus Cordyline, and the family Agavaceae. Being a tropical to semi-tropical tree, it can only be grown successfully in USDA Zones 9 through 11. When grown in Zone 9 it is slightly frost hardy, tolerating temperatures down to approximately 25 degrees F. The plant does tend to recover from frost damage if the damage is not too severe. It can be grown indoors however, making an attractive container plant. The Cordyline stricta can be grown from seeds but is usually propagated by cuttings or root division.
The name Cordyline comes from the Greek cordlye, or a swelling, which is characteristic of the stems of some of the species. Stricta, or Strictus, refers to the plant's erect and upright growing habit. It is better known as the Narrow-leaved Palm Lily.
Cordyline Stricta's Cousins - Relatives of Cordyline stricta are found in New Zealand, Africa, and a number of the Pacific islands. One of the better known of the Cordyline species is Cordyline terminalis, better known as the Ti plant, a native of the Pacific. The Ti plant is definitely a tender perennial, not frost tolerant, and in the United States is only found in southern Arizona, parts of southern California, and Florida. The Ti plant grows to a height of only 6 feet, but its leaves can be up to 2 feet in length.
Another relative, and a native of New Zealand is Cordyline australis, which has a pair of colorful common names, one being the Cabbage Tree, the other Ti Kouka. Cordyline australis is a more hardy plant than Cordyline stricta, or most of the other species, able to withstand temperatures down to 15 degrees F, and can be grown in USDA Zones 8 and above. The Cabbage Tree is a fast growing shrub or small tree, it can reach a height of 30 feet, and its leaves are often more than 3 feet long. Though it often has many branches, the Cabbage Tree bears a close resemblance to a palm tree.
Another Cabbage Tree, this time the Mountain Cabbage Tree, is Cordyline indivisa, another native of New Zealand, and one which is definitely a tropical plant. Shorter than the Cabbage Tree, the Mountain Cabbage Tree is generally under 12 feet tall, but like its cousin, closely resembles a palm tree. It is not frost tolerant at all, but can be grown in places like Phoenix, Arizona, though it needs to be covered during cold weather for protection.
The other of the Cordyline species is Cordyline hyacinthoides, which goes under a number of names, the most common being the Bowstring Hemp. This species comes from South Africa. Although frost tender, this species is considered easy to grow in places like Phoenix, Arizona. It is easy to grow in Florida as well, and in fact is considered to be an invasive plant in that state. One of the common features of the Cordyline stricta and its near relatives is while they requite ample water while becoming established, once established they are surprisingly drought tolerant.
There are about 20 different species of Cordyline known, with 8 of them being native to Australia. Of the Australian species, Cordyline stricta is by far the best known and is the species most widely cultivated for the nursery trade down under, while Cordyline terminalis, the Ti Plant is most likely the best known to residents of North America, especially those who have visited the Hawaiian Islands. All of these species are attractive plants, and though some can become rather large, all serve well as attractive indoor container plants.