Red Star Spike (Cabbage Palm)

Scientific Name: Cordyline australis 'Red Star'

Category: plant

A palm-like evergreen shrub with striking sword-shaped burgundy or red-bronze leaves, commonly used as a focal point in ornamental garden containers.

Long, arching, sword-like leaves that are dark burgundy or bronze-red. It grows from a central trunk and forms a spiked, architectural silhouette.

Native to New Zealand; widely cultivated in temperate gardens and as a container plant.

Perennial; retains color year-round in mild climates.

N/A

Provides structural cover for small insects; flowers (on mature plants) provide nectar for bees and birds.

Phormium (flax) which has stiffer leaves and lacks a trunk, and Dracaena species which are typically indoor houseplants with different leaf textures.

Look for this in container gardens or as a centerpiece in landscape beds. It thrives in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil.

Despite its appearance and common name 'Cabbage Palm', it is actually a member of the asparagus family (Asparagaceae).