About
Cordyline 'Dark Star' is an upright shrub or small tree that can reach approximately 3 meters in height under optimal conditions. It features lance-shaped leaves that are dark reddish-purple, arranged in an upright to arching manner at the ends of the branches. During late spring and early summer, established specimens produce clusters of small, fragrant, creamy-white flowers.
About the genus
Cordyline consists of evergreen shrubs or tree-like perennials that resemble palms. These plants feature clusters or tufts of long, narrow, leathery leaves and produce fragrant, cup-shaped flowers in terminal panicles, which are succeeded by small, round berries.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs, Trees
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 2.5-4 metres
- Spread
- 1-1.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Architectural, City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Houseplants, Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical
- Fragrance
- Flower
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. May need winter protection in cold areas. See cordyline cultivation for further information
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by stem cuttings or by removing and re-potting well-rooted offsets in spring
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to mealybugs, scale insects and red spider mites when grown under glass
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to cordyline slime flux and honey fungus (rarely)