Cordyline australis 'Red Star': The Dramatic Cabbage Palm

The Striking Red Cabbage Tree

Cordyline australis 'Red Star', also known as Cabbage Palm, Ti Kouka, Torbay Palm, or Dracaena Spike, is a spectacular New Zealand native cultivar prized for its deep burgundy-red, sword-like foliage that creates instant architectural drama.

Taxonomic Details

Bold Architectural Form

This evergreen perennial forms a stout trunk topped with a dense crown of long, arching, strap-shaped leaves in intense reddish-purple to burgundy. Mature specimens reach 10-20 feet tall in the ground, but remain smaller in containers. In early summer, mature plants may produce large panicles of small, fragrant, creamy-white flowers.

'Red Star' thrives in full sun to partial shade with well-draining soil. It's surprisingly drought-tolerant once established and handles coastal winds and salt spray admirably. Hardy in zones 8-11; in colder regions, it's a premier container specimen for seasonal display or year-round indoor cultivation.

Design Applications

Unmatched for creating focal points in contemporary, tropical, or Mediterranean gardens. The vertical form and intense color contrast beautifully with silver, chartreuse, or variegated companions. Excellent in large containers flanking entries, on patios, or poolside. The Māori traditionally used the species for fiber, food, and medicine.