Field ManualAll plants

Photo: Pc1878, via Wikimedia CommonsLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0

Ti plant

Cordyline fruticosa

Pet & Human Safety

People: Toxic to people (low severity)Pets: Toxic to pets
Hazardous parts
sap/juice
Preparation
Not yet checked.
Hazard type
Not yet checked.
Hazard route
eating the plant; skin contact with sap
How complete this information is
The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets
Toxic to pets

Treat this plant as toxic to cats and dogs.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Look-alike warning
Could be mistaken for Plants that share its name. To tell them apart: Ti plant / Cordyline is not the true Dracaena, but ASPCA's 'Giant Dracaena' is a Cordyline; the common names overlap..

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones

USDA zones 10a to 12b (NC State).

Water needs

moderate

Mature size

Height 9 to 15 ft, width 3 to 8 ft (NC State); potted indoor plants stay much smaller and rarely flower.

Family

Asparagaceae (NC State)

Where it comes from

Papua New Guinea and Australia to the Western Pacific (NC State).

Soil & Drainage
Pruning & Flush Rhythm
Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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Anatomy & Guilds

Botanical Anatomy & Characteristics

How the flowers and leaves are built and which pollinators visit, where we have them.

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Field Doctor

Field Doctor

What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.

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Vintage Plates

Vintage Plates

Old botanical drawings from public libraries are in the app, for plants where we have them.

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Sources

  1. NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, Cordyline fruticosa (Checked October 2026)
  2. Kew Plants of the World Online - Cordyline fruticosa (L.) A.Chev.
  3. ASPCA Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Baby Doll Ti Plant (Checked October 2026)

How we choose sources

Wishlists live in the app

Wishlists are part of the Plot & Petal app, which is coming soon. Nothing is added to a wishlist from this page.

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