Cordyline terminalis (Good Luck Plant, Good Luck Tree)
Botanical Information
| Family | Asparagaceae |
| Genus | Cordyline |
| Species | terminalis |
| Synonyms | Cordyline fructiosa |
| Category | Tropicals, Woody |
| Origin | Southeastern Asia, eastern Australia and Hawaii |
| Ethnobotanical Uses Disclaimer | Leaves of this plant have been used in Hawaii to make hula skirts and provide edible rhizomes for food. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 10 - 12 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H1b - H3 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | 1 - 15 |
| Temperature (°F) | 33.8 - 59 |
| Height | 2 - 5 m |
| Spread | 0.9 - 3.5 m |
| Growth | Medium |
Description and Growing Information
| ID Characteristic | Grown for distinct foliage, with the new leaves emerging as a bright pinkish-red. |
| Landscape | Best suited for houseplant use. |
| Propagation | By stem sections. |
| Cultivation | Part to full shade in a well-drained, peaty potting mixture. Needs consistently moist soil during the active growing season, water sparingly during the winter. |
| Pests | Aphids, scale, spider mites and mealybugs. |
| Notable Specimens | Suan Packkad Palace, Bangkok, Thailand. |
| Leaf Description | Stiletto shaped leaves grow up to 76 cm long and 15 cm wide. |
| Flower Description | Showy, fragrant and grow at the end of 30 cm long panicles. |
| Colour Description | Flowers range from white to pink to pale lavender. When leaves first emerge they are pinkish red, but mature to deep green. Berries are red. |
Photographs
Cordyline terminalis, form.
Cordyline terminalis, leaf.
