Bauer's Cordyline

Bauer’s Cordyline is a fantastic foliage plant, which transforms as it grows from a mound of slender, upright leaves into a tall stem, perhaps 5 feet tall, topped by a big spray of leaves, each about 2 feet long, bringing a striking, tropical look to your planting. The leaves are smooth, glossy and red-brown, arching upwards, and on mature plants an open, spreading head of tiny white flowers may rise above and among the leaves in summer. Use it among shrubs or perennials, especially in tropical-looking plantings, with canna, dwarf banana, bird-of-paradise and other interesting plants. From zone 9 it can be left in the ground overwinter, and in cooler zones grow it in a pot – which you can bury in a garden bed in summer – and bring it inside when temperatures fall below 40 degrees F. Put it out again in spring once the danger of frost has passed. Or, you can grow it as a permanent houseplant, in a bright window. Versatile, striking and unique, this plant will bring a new look to your garden or home. Not to be confused with the somewhat similar looking dragon tree (Dracaena).

• Striking cluster of glossy, narrow leaves of deep red-brown
• Develops a tall, leaf-less trunk to 5 feet or even more
• Great for bringing a tropical look to you garden or home
• In cooler zones, keep indoors during winter
• Great as a houseplant too, for a bright spot

Bauer’s Cordyline will tolerate some shade, but grows strongest, and develops the best leaf coloring, when planted in full sun. Grow it in any well-drained soil. Growth will be fastest and strongest in a richer soil, so add some compost to the earth when planting. Water new plants regularly, as this encourages vigorous growth. As it matures, reduce watering gradually, and it will become heat and drought tolerant. Trim back old leaves on the stem once they begin to dry – no other care is needed. Individual stems that flower may die back, generating new growth from the ground. Deer and rabbits leave this plant alone, and it almost never has serious pests or diseases, although plants permanently indoors may have some of the usual houseplant problems.