Without a doubt, healthy green plants are the most powerful mood boosters. Perhaps that’s the reason why in many cultures, certain species are believed to be the bearers of good luck. Take the colourful and leafy Cordyline, for instance. Early Hawaiians used to line the borders of their properties with this plant, believing it had the power to ward off evil and draw in good luck. And even today, Cordyline is still commonly referred to as “the good luck plant”, not due to its magical abilities, but due to its beautiful foliage that can instantly bring a smile to your face.
In the light of that fact (or legend), those of us living in Australia or New Zealand are certainly very lucky as the Cordyline plant is native to our region as well. Because it thrives in tropical climates, the Cordyline is a sun-loving shrub which isn’t able to tolerate cool temperatures and frost very well. Its colourful, tropical look makes it perfect for bringing an exotic feel to your garden, especially if you don’t have the space or desire to plant palm trees. But even if you don’t have a garden, the Cordyline plant can also thrive beautifully on a South-facing balcony or as an indoor plant, provided that it has a sunny spot by the window.
The range of colours Cordylines come in is absolutely unbelievable. You can come across combinations of green and tinges of bold colours such as almost burnt orange, sunny yellow, crimson red, or even bright pink. And the good news is Cordylines are evergreen shrubs which means the leaves will stay this way all year round, flooding your space with vibrant colours. But if you want to make the leaf colour even brighter, add a good fertiliser with a high level of potassium in early spring and autumn.
As a hardy plant, taking care of your Cordyline is relatively easy. All you need to do is pick a spot for your plant where it can receive 6-8 hours of sunlight a day in order to promote growth. As for watering, be careful not to overwater it as this may cause root rot. It’s important to make sure the soil is dry between waterings. But if the weather is too hot, you may need to water it more frequently. One sign that the plant needs more water is leaves that start turning yellow on the ends. If you plan to keep your Cordyline indoors, misting it every now and then will help preserve the elasticity of the leaves.
