Light
Very bright / some direct • approx. 20,000–40,000 lux
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Asparagaceae
Cordyline australis
- Curated selection:
Every plant is hand‑picked for health and visual appeal, so you receive a strong, well‑established plant.
- Representative photos:
Product images show a typical plant of this variety. Natural differences in leaf number, shape or variegation are normal, your plant will still match in type and quality.
- Size details:
Listed sizes refer to pot diameter (cm) and approximate overall height (cm) from the base of the pot to the tallest leaf or stem.
- “Get What You See” items:
If you are buying the exact plant shown in the photos, this is clearly stated in the size section.
- Individual photos:
One‑off photos are only provided when this is explicitly mentioned in the size section. - For special traits or small quirks, please check the full product description.
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Your new plant has just travelled a long way and needs a calm start in its new home. For step-by-step unboxing and first-week care, check our after-delivery care guide. For deeper tips on how your plant settles in over the next weeks, read our houseplant acclimatization guide.
- Care basics , Main hub with links to all houseplant care guides.
- After delivery & first week , Unpacking, first placement, and early recovery.
- Light, How much light houseplants really need indoors.
- Watering , When to water and how to avoid root rot.
- Substrates & roots, Potting mixes and drainage for strong root systems.
- Humidity, When humidity matters and what actually helps.
- Fertilizing, Simple feeding routine without burning roots.
- Problems & pests, Yellow leaves, brown tips, bugs, and fixes that work.
- Semi-hydro, How to run low-maintenance mineral substrates.
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Cordyline australis
Quick Care Guide
Watering
Water when ~40–60% dry
Substrate
Moisture-retentive but aerated • Evenly moist • Organic-leaning • Fine-medium
Temperature
Ideal: 5–24 °C • Avoid below: -5 °C
Humidity
Normal 40–50 %
Growth habit
Upright cane-forming woody perennial.
Support
not needed
Growth speed
Slow
Max size indoors
Max. height: 300 cm • Max. spread: 100 cm
Toxicity & safety
Toxic
Origin & habitat
Native to New Zealand
Outdoor growing
Outside from 5 °C · winter-protected spot
How to read these values
These care values are quick reference points for indoor growing. Use them as a guide, then adjust for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.
For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.
- Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
- Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
- Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
- Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
- Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.
- Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
- Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
- Growth speed: expected pace under suitable indoor conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.
- Max size indoors: realistic long-term indoor size under good conditions.
- Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
- Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
- Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.
Cordyline australis
Long, narrow leaves rise from the centre of Cordyline australis, a New Zealand evergreen that slowly forms a visible stem. Young plants start as a dense head of narrow leaves. As the plant matures, the lower leaves dry, drop or can be removed, and the stem gradually becomes clearer.
In New Zealand, this species grows in bright, open places, including coastal, moist and exposed habitats. In containers, it develops more slowly and stays smaller, but it keeps the same upright habit. Give it bright light, good airflow and free-draining soil that stays lightly moist.
Cordyline australis at a glance
- New Zealand evergreen that forms a visible stem gradually
- Long, sword-shaped leaves in upright to arching heads
- Young plants stay leafy before the stem shows clearly
- Mature outdoor or conservatory plants can produce cream-white flower panicles
- It can grow indoors in a bright spot and spend warm months outdoors in shelter
From leafy head to stem
Cordyline australis belongs to Asparagaceae and forms a stem as it matures. The botanical name is Cordyline australis (G.Forst.) Endl. Mature plants outdoors in suitable climates can branch and produce large cream-white flower panicles, followed by pale fruit. Indoors, expect long leaves and a slowly developing stem rather than flowers.
Container plants often remain leafy for a long time. As the plant gets taller, use a heavier pot so the top growth does not tip the plant over. Cold soil that stays wet too long is one of the main risks for potted plants, especially in winter.
Cordyline australis care
- Light: Give very bright indoor light. Gentle sun is useful after acclimation, especially in the morning or late afternoon.
- Watering: Keep the substrate lightly moist during active growth. Let the upper layer dry before watering again. Water less in cooler, darker months.
- Substrate: A coarse, open mix helps the roots stay evenly moist without sitting wet.
- Pot choice: Use a stable pot with drainage holes. Taller plants need enough weight in the pot to stay balanced.
- Temperature: Protect young potted plants from frost. Cold tolerance depends on plant size, exposure, drainage and winter wetness.
- Humidity: Average indoor humidity is usually fine. Dry heated air can increase brown leaf tips.
- Feeding: Feed lightly during active growth. Light feeding keeps growth steadier than strong doses.
- Pruning: Remove brown lower leaves close to the stem. Older stems can reshoot after cutting during active growth.
- Outdoor placement: Move outside only after acclimation. Choose a bright, sheltered spot protected from strong wind and prolonged wet weather.
Troubleshooting Cordyline australis
- Brown leaf tips: Often linked to irregular watering, dry indoor air, salt build-up or cold draughts.
- Soft top or stem base: Check for cold soil that stays wet too long.
- Pale, stretched growth: Increase light gradually and rotate the pot so growth stays even.
- Sticky leaves or pale speckling: Check leaf bases and undersides for scale, mealybugs or spider mites.
Pet safety
Cordyline australis is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested. Keep it out of reach of pets and small children. The long, firm leaves also need space, so larger plants are better kept away from narrow walkways.
Botanical name
Cordyline comes from Greek kordyle, meaning club, referring to swollen underground parts found in the genus. Australis means southern, matching the plant’s southern origin.
Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.
FAQs about Cordyline australis
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