Want to transform your home or landscape into a Hawaiian paradise?

It’s easy when you splash a heavy dose of colorful Ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa) around. For centuries, these plants have been considered sacred by the Hawaiian people and are believed to bring good luck when planted around a home. This easy-care beauty, is also prized for its spectacular purple foliage that’s streaked with pink, cream, white, or burgundy.

Because its tropical in nature, Ti plant thrives in full sun (a south-facing window is perfect) and warm temperatures. It makes an excellent houseplant, but also shines in pots outdoors mixed with other tropicals such as hibiscus, ornamental sweet potato, and mandevilla.

In Zones 10 and 11, Ti plant also makes a great landscape plant, but if you live where things get a bit chillier be sure to bring your Ti plant indoors well before the first frost.

Ti plant prefers to be watered whenever the surface of the soil begins to dry out, but it’s tough enough to miss getting a drink now and then. However, it can be touchy about excess fluoride in the water so keep your plant hydrated with distilled water or rainwater.

Offering your Ti plant some extra humidity will go a long way to keeping it healthy and happy. During the winter, mist your plants often and/or set them on a shallow pebble-filled, tray of water. As the water in the tray evaporates it will add moisture to the air directly around the plants.

Written by Doug Jimerson