Cordyline baueri with a slender trunk and a rosette of arching burgundy sword-shaped leaves

Cordyline Baueri

Cordyline baueri
Categories:
Tropicals  ·  
Tropicals
Light
Morning sun / afternoon shade
Water
Moderate water; irrigate deeply when the upper 1–2 inches of soil dry. Water more frequently during extreme summer heat, especially in containers, and reduce watering in winter.
Size
10-20 ft tall × 6-10 ft wide
Habit
Upright tree – single-trunk – strap-leaf rosette
Toxicity
Toxic — Pets
Description
An evergreen, palm-like cordyline with arching, sword-shaped burgundy leaves and an upright woody trunk. Best grown in a sheltered microclimate in Phoenix.
Bloom Time
Summer
Deciduous / Evergreen
Evergreen
Special Features
Colorful Foliage
Growth Rate
Slow to moderate
Growth Habit
Upright tree – single-trunk – strap-leaf rosette
Mature Size
10-20 ft tall × 6-10 ft wide
Flower Color
White
Foliage Color
Deep green / sometimes flushed reddish
Landscape Use
Border / Bed, Container / Patio, Specimen / Accent, Tropical Garden
Garden Style
Tropical
Soil
Amended / Rich, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Clivia, Foxtail fern, Irrigated beds with afternoon shade
Toxic — Pets
Toxic to pets if ingested (saponins)
Care Instructions

Light: Morning sun with afternoon shade; protect from intense western exposure and reflected desert heat.

Water: Moderate water; irrigate deeply when the upper 1–2 inches of soil dry. Water more frequently during extreme summer heat, especially in containers, and reduce watering in winter.

Soil: Well-drained soil enriched with compost; avoid waterlogged clay. Use a freely draining potting mix in containers.

Mature size: Typically 6–10 feet tall and 3–6 feet wide in cultivation; older plants may grow taller in favorable conditions.

Bloom: Mature plants may bloom in late spring or early summer; flowering can be infrequent in containers or under stressful desert conditions.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen.

Growth rate: Moderate with adequate moisture and suitable temperatures; slower under desert stress.