Introduction to The British Gardener's website

Cordyline fruticosa

COMMON NAME

Green or Red Ti Plant or cabbage tree

TYPE

​Shrub

FAMILY

Asparagaceae

NOTES

​Typically grows as a short tree or shrub to 10’ tall in its native habitat.  Ti was originally brought here to Hawaii by the ancient Polynesians in their canoes. Parts of the plants were used for various medicinal purposes. The large, flexible, long-lasting leaves were used as food wrappers, plates, cups, table coverings, rain capes, thatch, clothes, hula skirts, sandals, and braided into leis. The leaves were also used for various cultural, ceremonial, and religious purposes. The roots (actually tuber-like rhizomes) were baked and eaten or fermented into alcohol.  Ti leaves are used as food wrappers for cooking food in an imu, a Hawaiian underground pit oven used to cook food for luaus (Hawaiian feasts). The sweet, starchy underground rhizomes can be baked and eaten.

GEOGRAPHIC REGION

Eastern Asia

NATIVE HABITAT

Often abundant in various types of forest (dry, dense, edges), on forested ridges, in thickets, and sometimes near beaches.

WEB SOURCES

wikipedia.org

tropical.theferns.info

wildlifeofhawaii.com



Cordyline fruticosa