Growing Cordyline Red Sister: How To Care For Red Sister Plant

Cordyline ‘Red Sister’ is one of the many named cultivars of the ti plant, Cordyline fruticosa, also called the Hawaiian ti plant or good luck plant.

Gardeners grow it for one reason: those bold red, pink and burgundy leaves that add a tropical pop to a patio, a garden bed or a bright room.

Here’s the first thing to get straight. Red Sister is not a dracaena. It’s a Cordyline, a member of the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), according to UF/IFAS Extension and NC State Extension. The two get mixed up all the time, and we’ll show you how to tell them apart below.

The species is a broadleaf evergreen shrub. Sources describe its home range a little differently: Missouri Botanical Garden says tropical Southeast Asia, eastern Australia and some Pacific islands, including Hawaii, while NC State says Australia and the Western Pacific islands.

Red Sister Cordyline Quick Care Tips

• Botanical name: Cordyline fruticosa ‘Red Sister’
• Common names: Ti plant, Hawaiian ti plant, good luck plant, Red Sister ti
• Old names (synonyms): Cordyline terminalis, Dracaena terminalis, Convallaria fruticosa, Terminalis fruticosa
• Pronunciation: kor-di-LY-nee froo-tih-KOH-sah
• Family: Asparagaceae (the asparagus family)
• Hardiness zones: 9B to 11B (UF/IFAS); 10 to 12 (NC State, Missouri Botanical Garden)
• Size (species): 3 to 10 feet tall outdoors (UF/IFAS); more often 3 to 6 feet as a houseplant (Missouri Botanical Garden)
• Light: Bright, indirect light indoors; avoid harsh afternoon sun
• Temperature: 65 to 85°F indoors; avoid cold drafts
• Humidity: 40 to 60% indoors (University of Hawaii); NC State says it prefers high humidity
• Soil: Well-dr
• ained, slightly acidic potting mix
• Water: Moist but not wet; water less from fall to late winter
• Watch for: Fluoride sensitivity (brown tips), mealybugs, scale, spider mites, leaf spot
• Propagation: Stem cuttings, stem sections (ti logs), air layering
• Safety: Toxic to dogs, cats and horses if eaten; sap can irritate skin

Is Red Sister a Dracaena?

No. Red Sister is a Cordyline, and Dracaena is a different genus. The mix-up is understandable.

One of the ti plant’s old botanical names is Dracaena terminalis, which NC State lists among its former names, and University of Hawaii Extension (CTAHR) lists “common dracaena” and “dracaena” among its common names. NC State says the ti plant is often confused with Dracaena fragrans.

You can tell them apart with two quick checks from NC State Extension:

• Leaf stalks: Cordyline leaves have grooved petioles (leaf stalks). Dracaena leaves have none.
• Roots: Cordyline roots are white. Dracaena roots are orange or yellow.

Older references also file the ti plant under other families. The ASPCA lists it in Agavaceae, and University of Hawaii Extension’s 2007 guide uses Laxmanniaceae. Current listings at UF/IFAS, NC State and Missouri Botanical Garden all place it in Asparagaceae.

If a true dracaena is what you’re after, see our guides to Dracaena varieties and the red-edged Dracaena marginata.

Red Sister Cordyline Care

Size and Growth

Ti plants come in a wide range of leaf colors. UF/IFAS lists green, red, burgundy, pink, purple and variegated, depending on the cultivar. Red Sister is one of the red-to-pink types.

University of Hawaii Extension includes ‘Red Sister’ in its list of ti cultivars and notes that no single authority names ti plants, so names can vary by location.

How big does it get? That depends on where it grows. UF/IFAS lists the species at 3 to 10 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide, with leaves 8 to 18 inches long.

NC State lists 9 to 15 feet tall, with leaves up to 30 inches long and 6 inches wide. As a houseplant, Missouri Botanical Garden says it more often grows 3 to 6 feet tall. None of these sources gives a separate size for Red Sister.

The plant has an upright, open habit, with clumping stems and leaves clustered in spirals at the tips. As it ages, the older lower leaves yellow and drop, leaving rings of leaf scars on the stem. University of Hawaii Extension says this is normal.

In a container, that upright shape makes Red Sister a natural “thriller” in a thriller-filler-spiller combination. Set it near the center of the pot and surround it with lower plants and ones that spill over the edge. Use a pot with drainage holes.

Flowering and Fragrance

In warm climates, plants bloom on a branched flower stalk about a foot long. University of Hawaii Extension says the flowers appear in spring and come in white, pink, lavender or yellow. NC State describes them as small and fragrant, white to pale lavender, blooming in spring or summer and followed by red berries.

Indoors, don’t count on flowers. NC State and Missouri Botanical Garden both say potted indoor plants rarely flower or fruit. The leaves are the real show anyway.

Light

Bright light brings out the best color. University of Hawaii Extension says ti develops its best leaf color in bright light and needs about 4 hours of direct sun or bright, indirect light indoors. It suggests a spot within 4 to 8 feet of a large south-, east- or west-facing window. NC State says bright, indirect light keeps the foliage colors bright.

Too little light has a cost. University of Hawaii Extension says that in very low light, new growth gets stretched and poor in color, and red cultivars grown in heavy shade tend to make greener leaves.

Too much harsh sun is a problem too. Missouri Botanical Garden says too much direct afternoon sun can scorch the leaves, and University of Hawaii Extension says brightly colored cultivars burn easily in full sun.

Outdoors, UF/IFAS says the ti plant grows in full sun, partial shade or full shade. If you move a plant from shade into sun, UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County advises doing it gradually over several days to weeks, or the leaves will sunburn. University of Hawaii Extension adds that ti is only fairly wind-tolerant and needs a windbreak in windy spots.

Temperature, Humidity and Hardiness

Indoors, University of Hawaii Extension recommends 65 to 85°F, 40 to 60% humidity, and a spot away from cold drafts. NC State says the plant does best at 65 to 95°F and does not tolerate temperatures below 50°F. Missouri Botanical Garden calls for a winter minimum of 65°F.

Humidity matters more than you might think. NC State says ti plants prefer high humidity, that a humidifier may be needed indoors, and that the leaf tips turn brown if the air is too dry. University of Hawaii Extension says low light, low humidity and hot, dry air can cause leaf loss.

For growing outdoors, the zone ranges differ by source. UF/IFAS lists zones 9B to 11B, while NC State and Missouri Botanical Garden list 10 to 12.

UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County says the plant does best in zone 10 and suggests keeping it in containers in zone 9b, so you can move it to shelter when needed. Cool weather brings out the strongest leaf color, from November through May in Charlotte County.

Watering

Aim for evenly moist, never soggy. University of Hawaii Extension says to keep the well-drained mix moist but not wet and to avoid extremes, because excessive drying between waterings causes tipburn and dead leaf margins. UF/IFAS says to keep the plant moist but not overwatered, since overwatering leads to disease.

Ease off in the cool months. NC State says to let the plant dry out a bit between waterings and to water less from late fall to late winter. Missouri Botanical Garden says the same: keep soil consistently moist from spring to fall, then let it rest with less water.

Water the soil, not the leaves. University of Hawaii Extension lists avoiding overhead watering among its controls for leaf spot and stem rot.

Fluoride and Brown Leaf Tips

If your Red Sister’s leaf tips are turning brown, check the water. University of Hawaii Extension says ti plants are highly sensitive to fluoride from air, water, potting media or fertilizer.

The damage shows up as tipburn and dead leaf margins, then mottling toward the center of the leaf. It recommends water, potting media and fertilizers low in fluoride, with irrigation water under 0.25 ppm. UF/IFAS also lists fluoride toxicity as a ti plant problem.

Dry air and uneven watering cause brown tips too, so rule those out. Our guide to brown tips on houseplants walks through every cause.

Soil and Fertilizer

Plant in a rich, well-drained mix. University of Hawaii Extension says ti grows best in fertile, moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil high in organic matter, with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5.

For pots, NC State suggests a well-drained loamy soil or peat-based potting mix, and Missouri Botanical Garden suggests a well-drained, peaty mix.

Keep it away from salt. UF/IFAS rates the ti plant’s salt tolerance as poor, and Missouri Botanical Garden says it is intolerant of salt spray and prolonged drought. That matters if you garden near the coast.

For feeding, NC State says fertilizing several times a year helps the plant keep its colors. University of Hawaii Extension says slow-release fertilizers work best for potted ti and suggests occasional general garden fertilizer at 3- to 4-month intervals outdoors.

Follow the product label for amounts. If you use a liquid fertilizer, University of Hawaii Extension says to rinse it off the leaves so it doesn’t damage the emerging leaf.

Repotting and Grooming

University of Hawaii Extension says you can move potted plants into larger containers as they grow. Go up one pot size at a time, into a fresh, well-drained mix.

Grooming is simple. University of Hawaii Extension says to cut or pull off lower leaves that turn yellow or brown or show leaf spots, and to prune to control size. You can rejuvenate a tall, leggy plant by cutting the stems back to 6 inches above the soil, so new shoots grow lower on the stem.

How To Propagate Cordyline Red Sister

University of Hawaii Extension lists four ways to propagate ti: stem sections, tip (terminal) cuttings, seeds and air layering.

To keep Red Sister’s color, stick to cuttings. Hawaii’s guide says seedlings vary widely in size, leaf color and shape, and that named cultivars are propagated vegetatively.

Tip cuttings: A cluster of leaves with about 6 inches of stem roots quickly and makes a well-shaped plant in 4 to 6 months, according to University of Hawaii Extension.

Stem sections (ti logs): Cut a bare stem into pieces 1 inch long or longer. Set them upright with three-fourths of the length buried, or lay them on their side with about 1/4 inch of the stem’s thickness covered, in perlite, vermiculite or a peat moss and sand mix. Keep them moist and in partial shade. Cuttings root in 2 to 4 weeks, and a section laid on its side can sprout several plants. University of Hawaii Extension says a rooting hormone is not necessary.

Rooting in water: Use a cutting at least 6 inches long, with about an inch of the end in water. Change the water occasionally, and pot the cutting up once it has a strong root system, before the roots get very long.

Air layering: University of Hawaii Extension says an air-layered branch takes a couple of months to root.

Seeds: Fresh seeds germinate in 2 to 6 weeks when sown about 1/4 inch deep and kept moist and warm. Just remember the seedlings won’t all look like their parent.

Cordyline Red Sister Pests and Diseases

Check the undersides of leaves and the leaf bases now and then. NC State lists aphids, scale insects, spider mites, fungus gnats, thrips and mealybugs. UF/IFAS adds nematodes.

University of Hawaii Extension suggests these home-scale controls:

• Mealybugs: Dab them with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol, pick them off, or wash the plant with soapy water and a soft brush or cloth.
• Scale: Wash with soapy water, remove with an alcohol-soaked swab, or use a horticultural oil.
• Spider mites: A forceful spray of water helps keep populations down.
• Broad mites: Ultra-fine oil, insecticidal soap or neem may be used.
• Aphids: Insecticidal soap, which the guide calls the safest and most effective control.

Whatever you spray, read the label first. University of Hawaii Extension reminds readers that the pesticide label is the law.

For diseases, NC State recommends good air circulation and avoiding overwatering or soggy soil. University of Hawaii Extension describes three to know:

• Cercospora leaf spot: Rectangular yellow-to-brown spots between the leaf veins. Water early in the day, avoid overhead watering, space plants out and remove diseased leaves.
• Fusarium stem and root rot: Mushy brown roots and a soft rot at the base of the stem, often with a purplish or reddish edge. Remove and destroy affected plants.
• Bacterial stripe: Long, thin, water-soaked stripes between the veins that darken over time.

Is the Plant Toxic or Poisonous?

Yes, for pets. The ASPCA lists the ti plant as toxic to dogs and cats. It names saponins as the toxic principle and lists vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, loss of appetite, drooling and dilated pupils (in cats) as signs. NC State adds horses to the list.

For people, NC State rates the toxicity as low but says eating the plant can cause stomach upset. It recommends supervising children and pets around the plant and wearing gloves when handling it because of the risk of skin irritation.

UF/IFAS adds that saponins in the sap can cause contact dermatitis. If you think a pet has eaten some, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

Uses for Cordyline Red Sister

Red Sister is all about foliage. UF/IFAS suggests the ti plant as a specimen or accent, in mass plantings, in containers, or as a houseplant in bright indirect light.

It pairs it with other bold tropicals such as crotons, gingers, heliconias and philodendrons, softened by ferns or cast iron plant, over a base of liriope or mondo grass. University of Hawaii Extension adds hedges, screens and foundation plantings, with plants set 2 to 3 feet apart for massing.

The ti plant also has deep roots in Hawaiian culture. University of Hawaii Extension says early Polynesians believed the plant had divine power and planted it around homes to ward off evil and bring good fortune.

Its leaves are still used to wrap food for cooking and to make hula skirts, and they have been used for thatch, rain capes, sandals and even sleds. NC State also notes the plant is believed to bring good luck.

Want to know more about the species? See our guides to Cordyline fruticosa and Hawaiian ti plant care.

Do you grow a Red Sister? Tell us where yours lives and how its color holds up.