Chocolate Queen Cordyline – Cordyline fruticosa (Chocolate-Purple Ti Plant, Live Starter Plant)

The Chocolate Queen Cordyline (Cordyline fruticosa, also known as the Ti plant or Hawaiian good-luck plant) is a knockout tropical foliage plant. Its broad, strap-like leaves emerge striped with green, cream, and white, then mature into a rich kaleidoscope of chocolate-purple, burgundy, bronze, and red, all on an upright, cane-like stalk. Whether you grow it as a bold landscape accent in a warm climate or as a colorful houseplant, the Chocolate Queen Cordyline brings instant tropical drama and that classic good-luck charm.

Why Grow a Chocolate Queen Cordyline?

• Stunning multicolor foliage – broad leaves blend chocolate-purple, burgundy, bronze, and red with cream and green striping.
• Year-round color – an evergreen tropical that holds its vibrant leaves all year, no flowers needed.
• Indoors or out – also a striking patio and landscape accent in warm zones, and an easy, dramatic houseplant anywhere else.
• Upright tropical form – forms a neat, cane-like stalk that adds height and structure to beds and containers.
• The good-luck plant – especially treasured in Hawaiian and Pacific gardens, where the Ti plant is traditionally believed to bring good fortune.

Looking for more tropical foliage and color? Browse our Indoor Plants and Outdoor Plants collections.

Plant Specifications at a Glance

• Botanical name: Cordyline fruticosa ‘Chocolate Queen’ (formerly Cordyline terminalis)
• Plant type: Tender, evergreen tropical foliage plant (upright, cane-forming)
• Plant family: Asparagaceae (the asparagus family)
• Mature size: about 3–4 feet tall and up to 3 feet wide (taller in ideal tropical conditions); slow-growing
• Foliage: Broad, strap-like leaves in chocolate-purple, burgundy, bronze, and red with cream and green striping
• Light: Bright light to full sun for the richest color; bright indirect light indoors
• Notable traits: Bold tropical accent; easy houseplant; not frost-hardy
• Cold Hardiness Zones: 10–11 (grow as a houseplant or overwinter indoors in colder areas)

Chocolate Queen Cordyline Care & Growing Guide

This tropical is easy to please with warmth, light, and steady moisture. Follow these guidelines:

• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade outdoors, since brighter light brings out the deepest color. In very hot climates, a little afternoon shade prevents leaf scorch. Indoors, give it bright, indirect light.
• Water: Keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy, letting the top inch dry slightly between waterings. However, it is not drought-tolerant and appreciates humidity, since dry air can brown the leaf tips.
• Soil: Rich, humus-y, well-drained soil or a quality potting mix.
• Cold Hardiness Zone: 10–11. Because it will not tolerate frost or temperatures below about 50°F, grow it in a container in cooler areas and bring it indoors for winter.
• Feeding & pruning: Feed during the growing season, and trim ragged or dead leaves in spring. In addition, it is easy to propagate from stem cuttings.

Good to know: the Ti plant is considered toxic to cats, dogs, and horses if ingested. Therefore, keep pets and small children from chewing on the leaves.

Ways to Use Chocolate Queen Cordyline in the Landscape

This bold tropical adds rich color and height anywhere. Popular uses for the Chocolate Queen Cordyline include:

• Bold foliage accent in tropical and container gardens
• Also upright color and structure in mixed beds and borders
• Patio and poolside pots for a lush, tropical look
• Similarly, a colorful houseplant for bright rooms
• Mass plantings for a sweep of rich, dark foliage

It pairs beautifully with other tropical foliage and flowering plants. For example, gardeners often combine it with the lush Philodendron Xanadu, the cascading Firecracker Plant, or the purple-flowered Dwarf Tibouchina.

What You’ll Receive

These are live Chocolate Queen Cordyline starter plants, grown and shipped by Carlo’s Plant Farm. Each plant is less than 12 inches tall when we ship it. The listing photos show mature plants of the same species. That way, you can see how yours will look as they grow. Finally, choose your preferred bundle size using the options above.

Also, due to different state laws, we reserve the right to charge extra fees where necessary to comply.

Ordering, Shipping & Returns

Every order ships free and is insured against loss or damage in transit. For full details on how we pack and send your plants, processing and delivery times, and what to do in the rare case of a problem, please review our Shipping Policy and Terms & Conditions before purchasing. By placing an order, you agree to those terms.

Chocolate Queen Cordyline FAQ

Growing & Care Questions

Hardiness, Buying & Shipping Questions