Red Star Cordyline

Cordyline a. ‘Red Star’ is a palm-like sub-tropical tree that grows with an upright habit. With age it will branch out to produce several heads with very dark reddish bronze sword-like leaves. It produces large clusters of small sweet-scented flowers in late spring to summer. It can be plant in full coastal sun to light shade but some shade protection is necessary in hotter inland gardens. It is drought tolerant in coastal gardens but requires occasional to regular irrigation inland. Cordyline a. ‘Red Star’ offers a tropical look and is also a great container plant when small. It tolerates coastal conditions when protected from direct sea winds. This plant is often compared to or confused with ”Red Sensation” but the two plants when looked at side by side are definitely different. ‘Red Star’ has slightly narrower leaves that are more rusty red with less purple color. They also have a more prominent green edge.