Ti (Cordyline fruticosa) — Photo: Skye Pelliccia via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Ti

Cordyline fruticosa

Ti (Cordyline fruticosa) is a shrub or small tree in the Asparagaceae family.

Not native to Hawaii

Ti is a flowering plant.

1states where USDA records it

1,442HI sightings*

1,446U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Hawaii

Quick look

Cordyline fruticosa is an evergreen flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. It is known by a wide variety of common names, including ti plant, palm lily, and cabbage palm.
From Wikipedia's article Cordyline fruticosa, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Asparagaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Hawaii. ^NatureServe
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 10 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 1,442 research-grade sightings of it in Hawaii, ranking #27 among the 118 flowers on our Hawaii list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (9 records)

There are only a handful of Hawaii flowering records, so this chart uses records from across the U.S.

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Hawaii: Not listed Not on Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Hawaii. ^{HAR 13-107}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: sap/juice. Symptoms they list: “Vomiting (occasionally with blood), diarrhea, lethargy, depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats); Skin irritation or rash can occur with contact of the plant's sap.” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsCan be a problem for cats, children, dogs and horses

NC State Extension flags it as a problem for cats, children, dogs and horses. It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. ^{NC State Extension}

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records ti in 1 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Hawaii.

Hawaii counties with USDA records: Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, Maui.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Ti a medium shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.5 to 7.7 and winter lows down to 35 °F.

Shade tolerance: Medium
Drought tolerance: Medium
Moisture use: Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range: 5.5 to 7.7
Minimum temperature tolerated: 35 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 365
Annual precipitation range: 40 to 200 inches
Minimum root depth: 18 inches
Salinity tolerance: Medium
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Long
Active growth period: Year Round
Fruit or seed: Red · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by: bare root, container, cuttings
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for COFR2. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Hawaii: Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Native; Puerto Rico: Introduced.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Convallaria fruticosa, Cordyline terminalis, Dracaena terminalis.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 20 counties across 4 states; the most are in Palau (12), Hawaii (4), Puerto Rico (2).

More from the Asparagaceae family (34 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Yuccas, Solomon's plume (false Solomon's seal), Canada mayflower, Blue dicks, Common star-of-Bethlehem, Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley, Chaparral yucca, Mojave yucca.

More Hawaii flowers

ʻōhiʻa lehua

Metrosideros polymorpha

Native

🌼 Blooms in HI: May–June

Beach naupaka

Scaevola taccada

Native

🌼 Blooms in HI: May–December

Pūkiawe

Leptecophylla tameiameiae

🌼 Few flowering records in HI

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile COFR2.
iNaturalist, Cordyline fruticosa: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Cordyline fruticosa (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Hawaii: Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
Hawaii: Hawaii noxious weed list (HAR 4-68).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Cordyline fruticosa (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Skye Pelliccia via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.