(Muyuyo, Peruvian Cordia, Yellow Cordia, Yellow Geiger)

Yellow Geiger's arching branches produce showy clusters of funnel-shaped, cheerful yellow flowers when temperatures are warm. Native to western Ecuador, Peru and the Galapagos Islands, this evergreen tree may grow more like a spreading, floppy shrub. It naturally inhabits arid slopes and is tolerant of drought and salt spray. The trunk is often obscured by the bushy canopy, but the sandy gray bark underneath has an exfoliating texture.

The large rounded to oval leaves are matte green with slightly...

(Broadleaf Cordia, Geiger-tree, Scarlet Cordia)

A tough, resilient small flowering tree, the Geiger-tree bears rounded clusters of bright orange flowers intermittently across the tropical year. It is native to the coasts and forests across the Caribbean Basin, including northern South America. It was introduced into the Florida Keys by early settlers. Depending on the growing conditions, Geiger-tree may be an upright, oval-canopied tree or more of a large bush.

The plump, oval green leaves have a coarse, sandpaper texture. They usually are...

(Beach Cordia, Island Walnut, Kou, Sea Trumpet)

A terrific tree for coastal shade across the tropics, sea trumpet has glossy green foliage and small peach-orange flowers in small clusters throughout the year. A broadleaf evergreen, this tender tree is native to the coastal areas of East Africa, tropical southern and southeastern Asia, Australia and into the Pacific Islands. Its smooth grayish bark eventually becomes more brown and furrowed with age.

The large green leaves are glossy above with a matte underside and are shaped like eggs with...

(Anacahuita, Brazilian Cordia)

A very pretty flowering evergreen tree, the anacahuita or Brazilian cordia produces bright white flowers that contrast with its deep green foliage. When mature it stays small and develops a pleasing rounded canopy. This rainforest native of eastern Brazil may be easily confused with the more cold-hardy Texas olive (Cordia boissieri), which has similar white flowers with a few exceptions; Brazilian cordia's flowers are pure white and do not have brownish-yellow throats. After pollination...

(Cordyline, Renegade Cordyline)

The genus Cordyline is made up of about 20 species of lance-leaved shrubby perennials. All are grown for their attractive and colorful foliage and most are native to southeastern Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands. One species calls South America home.

These tropical plants generally have an upright, tree-like form. The stems are thin, usually un-branched and woody. The long leaves may be sword or lance-shaped and are clustered in rosettes at the ends of upright semi-woody stems....

(Cabbage Tree, Cordyline)

A New Zealand native, cabbage tree is a fast growing woody evergreen with long sword-shaped leaves. The upper leaves are erect or arching; the lower leaves droop. Large panicles of small fragrant white flowers appear on mature plants in late spring and summer, followed by small white blue-tinged fruits. Although it can form a small palm-like tree, it is often grown as a shrub or container plant.

Cordyline grows best in deep, well-drained soil in full sun, and will tolerate alkaline soils. Use...

(Cabbage Tree, Cordyline, Dracaena, Red Sensation Cordyline)

Red Sensation cabbage tree is a fast growing woody plant native to New Zealand that can be grown as a palm-like shrub or a small tree. Its narrow, swordlike upper leaves remain erect while the lower leaves in the tip cluster droop. Panicles of fragrant white flowers appear in late spring, followed by small white or blue fruits.

'Red Sensation' is grown for its dulled purple-burgundy leaves and is often used for height and texture in annual container plantings. Cordyline grows best in deep,...

(Cabbage Tree, Cordyline, Dracaena, Red Star Cordyline)

Red Star cabbage tree is a fast growing woody plant native to New Zealand that can be grown as a palm-like shrub or a small tree. Its narrow, swordlike upper leaves remain erect while the lower leaves in the tip cluster droop. Panicles of fragrant white flowers appear in late spring, followed by small white or blue fruits.

'Red Star' is grown for its rusty bronze-red leaves and is often used for height and texture in annual container plantings. Cordyline grows best in deep, well-drained soil...

(Cabbage Tree, Cordyline, Dracaena, Sundance Cordyline)

A New Zealand native, cabbage tree is a fast growing woody evergreen with long sword-shaped leaves. The cultivar 'Sundance' has green leaves with pink midribs and bases. The upper leaves are erect or arching; the lower leaves droop. Although it can form a small palm-like tree, it is often grown as a shrub or container plant. Large panicles of small fragrant white flowers appear on mature plants in late spring and summer, followed by small white blue-tinged fruits.

Cordyline thrives in deep, well-drained...

(Good Luck Tree, Hawaiian Ti, Tiplant)

Hawaiian Ti (pronounced "tee") is a broadleaf evergreen shrub, resembling a palm tree that is native to tropical Southeast Asia. Unbranched stems support strap-like leaves which can be dark green, red, yellow, pink or variegated. More intense colors are produced in full sun, although some cultivars cannot handle intense sunrays. White to purple flowers appear in summer followed by red berries. The ti is clump forming and sometimes suckering, though not invasive.

Place ti in a moist well-draining...