Good luck tree, Ti tree
Cordyline fruticosa
Family: Asparagaceae
What it is like
An erect, suckering, clump forming, bush. It grows 2-5 m high. It reaches 1-2.5 m across. Normally the stems don't branch. Older trees form branches higher up. The stems are woody and covered with leaf scars. Often the leaves taper at the base, and have a bluntly pointed tip. The leaf petiole is broad and clasps the stem. It is short and has a channel along it. The leaves are strap shaped, and occur in a crown at the top and clustered in spirals near the end of the stem. The leaves are 75 cm long by 15 cm wide. The leaves are green. Some kinds have leaves with yellow or red stripes. They are 30-60 cm long. The flowers are 0.8 cm long and purple. It produces white to purple flowers in loose panicles, which are 30-60 cm long. The fruit are bright red berries. They are 8-12 mm across.
It is used as a medicine in Indonesia. There are 15-20 Cordyline species. Also put in the family Laxmanniaceae. and Agavaceae.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It needs a temperature above 13°C. Tropical and subtropical. It grows from sea level up to 2600 m altitude. It grows in rainforests. It suits humid locations. It likes moist places. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In XTBG Yunnan. Arboretum Tasmania.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Central America, China, Chuuk, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Easter Island, Fiji, French Polynesia, FSM, Guam, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Mariana Islands, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Pacific (country/location of origin), Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tahiti, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna, West Indies, Yap
How it is used for food
The starchy rhizomes can be used for food. They are baked. They are sweet. As food, the roots, although edible are rarely used. The young, unrolled leaf shoots are also eaten, cooked. They are also used for flavouring rice. The roasted roots can be fermented to make an alcoholic drink. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer.
It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Leaves, tubers, fruit, heart, root
How it is grown
It is grown from cuttings of the stalk. It can also be grown from seed, suckers or division of the clump.
Its other names
Local names
Andong, Good Luck Plant, Hanjuang, Hawaiian Red Ti, Kone-linne, Kun-linne, Lau ti, Masawe, Palm lily, Qai, Rauti, Si, Takaya, Tanget, te raunti, Ti vao, Ti-pore, Tie shu, Vakota, Vasili, Zaw-ma, Zhu jiao
Synonyms
Asparagus terminalis L., nom. illeg.; Aletris chinensis Lamarck; Convallaria fruticosa L.; Cordyline terminalis Kunth, nom. illeg.; Cordyline terminalis var. ferrea (L.)Baker; Dracaena ferrea L. nom illeg.; Dracaena terminalis Lam., nom. illeg.; Terminalis fruticosa (L.) Kuntze; Taetsia ferrea (L.) Medikus; Taetsia fruticosa (L.) Merr.; Taetsia terminalis (L.) W.Wight ex Safford;