Cordyline fruticosa

Ti has tall wood stalks 3 to 12 feet high. The green leaves are pointed, oval and blade-shaped, about 4 inches wide and vary from 1 to 2 feet long. As new leaves form at the center, the outside older leaves turn yellow and fall, leaving a circular ring on the plant's stalk. The leaves are thick, shiny and flexible. The plant ranges in leaf color from pale white and yellow with green tones, to reds, covering a broad spectrum from pale to pink to a maroon, that appears almost black. Cordyline flower stalk emerges in winter. With the coming of spring, a many-branched drooping cluster of flowers comes into bloom. Its hundreds of tiny half-inch lilac-whitish purple flowers resemble miniature lilies. White or red berries follow the flowering stage, especially in varieties other than the green. (Krauss, B. H. 1993. Plants in Hawaiian Culture.) (Kepler, A. K. 1998. Hawaiian Heritage Plants.)

Ti has many medicinal uses, either alone or as a wrapping for other herbs needing to be steamed or boiled. For fever, the entire body of an unclothed person was covered with large green Ti leaves. After the patient sweat and fever was broken, the leaves were removed. Cool, freshly washed damp green Ti leaves, held and wrapped around the forehead and temples, can be helpful in relieving headache and fever. Hot stones are wrapped in Ti leaves and used to soothe sore back muscles. A drink from boiled green Ti leaves is used to aid nerve and muscle relaxation. Steam from boiled young shoots and leaves make an effective decongestant. The pleasantly fragrant flowers are also used for asthma, when prepared with other plants. (Krauss, B. H. 1993. Plants in Hawaiian Culture.) (Kepler, A. K. 1998. Hawaiian Heritage Plants.)

The people of Hawai'i plant Ti around their homes and churches for good luck. In the old days Ti was planted around the lo'i, Taro ponds. The Ti's versatile leaves have many uses, including wrappings for offerings, for roof thatching, as fly whisks or fans, as wrappings for cool food storage, preservation and protection, for wrapping of food to be cooked, especially for laulau, as plates or cups, as fishing lures on hukilau nets, as wearing apparel, such as rain capes, sandals and as hula skirts called pa'u. More recently Ti leaves are used as feed for cattle and horses. Ti leaves are also decorative. They are braided, twisted or woven into lei for numerous special and celebratory occasions. Ti leaves are used as a covering for lu'au tables. Also, they provide Hawai'i's tropical flower industry with a wonderful variety of foliage for impressive floral arrangements. Whistles can also be made from the plant's leaf. (Krauss, B. H. 1993. Plants in Hawaiian Culture.) (Kepler, A. K. 1998. Hawaiian Heritage Plants.) (Information for this species compiled and recorded by Camelia Cirnaru, NTBG Consultant.)

Ti may have originated in tropical Asia and Australia. In Hawai'i it was introduced by the earliest Polynesian settlers. (Krauss, B. H. 1993. Plants in Hawaiian Culture.) (Kepler, A. K. 1998. Hawaiian Heritage Plants.)

A popular use of this plant was in making Okolehao, affectionately called Oke, a potent liquor much like a clear brandy. This brew is distilled from a ferment of baked mashed Ti root. The root is thick, white and sweet, growing very large in older plants. The baked roots are also an emergency famine food and have been eaten as a confection. (Krauss, B. H. 1993. Plants in Hawaiian Culture.) (Kepler, A. K. 1998. Hawaiian Heritage Plants.)

Ti is considered sacred to the Hawai'i God Lono and to the Goddess of the hula, Laka. It is also an emblem of high rank and divine power. The Hawai'i father Kahili is said to have been inspired by this plant. The leaves are also worn or carried as protection to ward off so-called evil spirits and to call in good. The kahuna priests wore Ki leaves either as lei or as garments when they conducted ancient ceremonial rituals. Ti leaves are still used often today in religious ceremonies conducted by Hawai'i's multi-racial clergy, especially at opening ceremonies to bless new buildings and projects. (Krauss, B. H. 1993. Plants in Hawaiian Culture.) (Kepler, A. K. 1998. Hawaiian Heritage Plants.)

Ti plant, grows abundantly, cultivated and wild, throughout the tropical Pacific and Southeast Asia. It is common from sea level in the lower wetlands up to the 4,000 foot elevation. Ti is found in shady moist gardens, as a landscaping background plant or as a hedge. (Krauss, B. H. 1993. Plants in Hawaiian Culture.) (Kepler, A. K. 1998. Hawaiian Heritage Plants.)

We currently have 93 herbarium specimens for Cordyline fruticosa in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.

054649 - collected by Relio Lengsi in Unknown
085587 - collected by S. J. Whitmee in 0000
045103 - collected by F. B. H. & E. D. W. Brown in 1921
045102 - collected by F. B. H. & E. D. W. Brown in 1921
045923 - collected by F. B. H. Brown in 1922
045924 - collected by F. B. H. Brown in 1922
045946 - collected by John W. Moore in 1926
022441 - collected by Otto Degener in 1936
066099 - collected by C. R. Long in 1965
086670 - collected by Art Whistler in 1972
088673 - collected by Art Whistler in 1973
088671 - collected by Art Whistler in 1973
088672 - collected by Art Whistler in 1973
088669 - collected by Art Whistler in 1974
088668 - collected by Art Whistler in 1975
088674 - collected by Art Whistler in 1975
088677 - collected by Art Whistler in 1980
088679 - collected by Art Whistler in 1980
021980 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1986
021979 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1986
021978 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1986
021981 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1986
006887 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1988
010367 - collected by Art Whistler in 1990
016534 - collected by Jacques Florence in 1991
088675 - collected by Art Whistler in 1992
088678 - collected by Art Whistler in 1994
088676 - collected by Art Whistler in 1996
034684 - collected by Michael J. Balick in 1997
044038 - collected by Liloa Dunn in 1998
034805 - collected by F. Sohl in 1999
043294 - collected by Michael J. Balick in 2000
043454 - collected by A. Raynor in 2001
035276 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2001
035341 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2001
034794 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2001
052974 - collected by Michael J. Balick in 2001
035738 - collected by Hank Oppenheimer in 2002
053018 - collected by A. Dores in 2002
053128 - collected by A. Dores in 2002
039677 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039675 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039665 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039664 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039663 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039672 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039659 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039660 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039670 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039662 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039661 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039690 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039678 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039673 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039679 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039680 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039681 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039682 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039683 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039684 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039685 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039686 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039687 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039689 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039688 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039691 - collected by Anya Hinkle in 2003
039331 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2003
039537 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2003
039823 - collected by Steve Perlman in 2003
039716 - collected by Jean-Yves Meyer in 2003
Unassigned - collected by Jean-Yves Meyer in 2003
Unassigned - collected by Jean-Yves Meyer in 2003
053013 - collected by A. Dores in 2003
043622 - collected by A. Dores in 2003
051829 - collected by E. Albert Amor in 2004
043891 - collected by E. Albert Amor in 2004
043457 - collected by Francisca Sohl in 2004
055180 - collected by P. Emos Eperiam in 2006
048162 - collected by Michael J. Balick in 2007
048157 - collected by Michael J. Balick in 2007
096228 - collected by J. A. Sanney in 2007
081768 - collected by David E. Brussell in 2008
051438 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2009
S062121 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2010
060184 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2010
070909 - collected by Jesse Adams in 2013
070911 - collected by Jesse Adams in 2013
070910 - collected by Jesse Adams in 2013
070908 - collected by Jesse Adams in 2013
Unassigned - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
Unassigned - collected by K. R. Wood in 2017
085361 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2018
082482 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2018

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