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Products > Cordyline 'Cardinal'   Cordyline 'Cardinal' - Cardinal Cordyline      Habit and Cultural Information Category: Grass-like Family: Dracaenaceae (~Agaveaceae) Origin: New Zealand (Australasia) Evergreen: Yes Red/Purple Foliage: Yes Flower Color: Light Lavender Bloomtime: Summer Fragrant Flowers: Yes Synonyms: [Cordyline 'Crimson Star'] Parentage: (Cordyline australis x C. banksii?) Height: 2-3 feet Width: 2-3 feet Exposure: Cool Sun/Light Shade Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F Cordyline 'Cardinal' (Cardinal Cordyline) - A smaller clump forming Cordyline that forms a rosette to 3 feet tall with glossy arching red leaves that first emerge narrow and widen with maturity. Plant in full sun (along coast) to shade and water regularly. Plant in full sun to part shade in a well drained soil with regular to occasional irrigation. The best foliage color will likely be in full to partial coastal sun to morning sun to shade inland. We have not had it outside for a cold winter but likely it will have a similar hardiness as other Cordyline hybrids and tolerate down to 20 F. A nice plant for containers or the front of a planting where the attractive red arching foliage can be emphasized. This plant, introduced by Ball Ornamentals, is thought to be an interspecific hybrid involving Cordyline australis and C. banksii, though it seems more solitary without the basal suckering habit seen in other hybrids involving C. banksii such as 'Renegade', 'Jurred' and 'Electric Pink' though has the arching, narrower and shinier leaf with a cupped clasping petiole that is typical of this hybrid cross. Hopefully it will also have the small fragrant pale purple flowers that the others hybrid Cordyline display in summer months. This plant is very similar if not the same as plants being sold as 'Crimson Star'.  The description above is based on our research and observations of this plant growing in our nursery and in our own and other Santa Barbara gardens. We would appreciate hearing from anyone who has additional information or disagrees with what we have written.     [MORE INFO]