Cordyline, often called the Cabbage Tree or Ti Plant, is celebrated for its striking, architectural silhouette. Its upright, vibrantly colored foliage provides an immediate vertical accent, creating a tropical or modern focal point in any landscape or container planting. To utilize this plant’s dramatic effect, gardeners must surround it with companions that enhance its unique form rather than compete. A thoughtful selection ensures the Cordyline remains the star while contributing to a cohesive and visually rich garden design.
Matching Planting Requirements
Successful companion planting requires selecting plants that share the same foundational environmental needs as the Cordyline. Most Cordyline species thrive in full sun to dappled or partial shade. Intense afternoon sun, especially in southern regions, can scorch the leaves of colored varieties, though green-leafed varieties tolerate more intense light exposure.
The soil must be consistently moist but exceptionally well-drained to prevent root rot. Cordylines prefer rich, fertile soil containing ample organic matter, mimicking their native tropical forest floors. For container planting, use a potting mix with added perlite or grit to ensure necessary drainage and prevent root damage.
Cordyline requires regular watering to maintain a slightly moist soil profile, especially during the growing season, but standing water must be avoided. Companions should be similarly adapted to moderate, consistent hydration and intolerant of overly saturated conditions. This shared requirement ensures all plants in the arrangement can be watered and maintained simultaneously.
Companions for Dramatic Contrast and Texture
The Cordyline’s stiff, sword-like leaves and upright habit are best highlighted when paired with plants offering soft, horizontal, or rounded visual opposition. This textural contrast draws attention to the Cordyline’s dramatic lines, preventing the composition from appearing too uniform or spiky. Fine-textured ornamental grasses, such as Stipa tenuissima (Mexican feather grass) or Calamagrostis (feather reed grass), create a beautiful, billowing foil to the Cordyline’s rigidity.
Lush, broad-leafed plants provide an effective contrast to the narrow Cordyline foliage. Hostas, with their large, ribbed leaves, offer a dense, rounded form that visually anchors the base of the taller plant. Similarly, the large, palmate leaves of Fatsia japonica introduce a bold, glossy texture that sharply defines the Cordyline’s linear structure.
Ferns, with their delicate, feathery fronds, offer an airy texture that softens the severity of the Cordyline’s structure. Tropical plants like Caladiums, with their large, heart-shaped leaves, also work well. They provide a dense, low-level contrast that mimics the layered look of a diverse understory, ensuring a dynamic and visually complex planting scheme.
Plants that Complement Color and Form
The Cordyline’s colored foliage—often red, burgundy, pink, or deep purple—provides an opportunity for harmonious color schemes. A monochromatic approach involves echoing the Cordyline’s deep hues with companions that share a similar pigment. Heuchera (Coral Bells) varieties with dark purple or bronze leaves are excellent choices, creating depth and sophistication.
Using complementary colors can make the Cordyline’s color appear more vibrant. For Cordylines with red or burgundy leaves, such as ‘Red Star,’ plants with bright gold, silver, or lime green foliage offer a striking visual pop. The chartreuse foliage of ‘Lime Light’ Helichrysum or the golden leaves of Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’ contrast vividly, making the Cordyline’s color stand out.
To enhance a tropical feel, pair Cordyline with plants featuring variegated or patterned foliage. Coleus varieties that share the Cordyline’s colors—such as deep reds, pinks, and greens—can be planted below to create a seamless transition. Specific cultivars of Caladiums, featuring patterns of pink, white, and red, extend the Cordyline’s palette into the lower planting levels.
Layering and Arrangement Strategies
Effective arrangement utilizes the Cordyline as the central vertical anchor, building layers around it to maximize visual impact. The Cordyline’s height naturally places it in the background or center of a bed or container, serving as the “thriller” element. Mid-height filler plants, like mounding Hostas or certain Sedums, should be positioned to cover the base of the Cordyline, creating a transition zone to the lower plants.
The lowest layer should feature spreading or trailing plants that spill over container edges or form a dense groundcover. Trailing options like Lysimachia or Silver Falls Dichondra work well to soften the edges of a container, visually connecting the tall Cordyline to the ground. When planting in containers, selecting a tall pot is advisable, as Cordylines develop a significant root ball and require depth for proper establishment.
To maintain the Cordyline as the focal point, companion plants must be scaled appropriately so their mature size does not overwhelm the central plant. In garden beds, sufficient spacing must be provided to allow the Cordyline’s foliage rosette to fully develop. This stratification of heights ensures the entire planting appears balanced and multi-dimensional.