Cordyline fruticosa
polynesian_introductionAsparagaceae

Cordyline fruticosa

kī · ti

Polynesian introduction

Brought by Polynesian voyagers before Western contact.

Culturally significant canoe plant introduced by early Polynesian settlers. Now widespread, useful in cultural restoration plantings and erosion control around hālau and marae.

Cordyline fruticosa is an evergreen flowering plant in the Asparagus family, Asparagaceae, known by a wide variety of common names, including cabbage palm, good luck plant, palm lily, ti plant, Kī, Lā‘ī (Hawaiian), Tī Pore (Māori), Sī (Tongan), Lauti (Samoan), and ʻAutī (Tahitian).

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Seasonality
24 flowering · 10 fruiting annotations · iNaturalist · fetched Jul 2026
JFMAMJJASONDpeak
■ flowering (peak January)■ fruiting (peak May)

This is an inference, not a schedule. The curve reflects when observers annotated flowering and fruiting — which tracks observer effort as well as plant behavior, and pools all elevations and islands into one signal. Hawaiʻi’s microclimates vary enormously; a species may fruit in January at sea level and June at elevation. Use this to know when to look, then look.

Gallery · 10 · iNaturalist
open-licensed photos · click any to view its source
Where documented · 112 ahupuaʻa
documented occurrences · iNaturalist + GBIF · iNaturalist 199 · GBIF 299 records
Waikīkī · OʻahuiNat 29 · GBIF 26 ✓
Honolulu · OʻahuiNat 4 · GBIF 24 ✓
Keauhou · HawaiʻiiNat 3 · GBIF 19 ✓
Kahakuloa · MauiiNat 1 · GBIF 19 ✓
Honopou · MauiiNat 7 · GBIF 13 ✓
Hāʻena · KauaʻiiNat 4 · GBIF 13 ✓
Waimea · KauaʻiiNat 5 · GBIF 12 ✓
Wailua · KauaʻiiNat 8 · GBIF 9 ✓
Piʻihonua · HawaiʻiiNat 6 · GBIF 10 ✓
ʻAiea · OʻahuiNat 5 · GBIF 10 ✓
Hanakāpīʻai · KauaʻiiNat 1 · GBIF 13 ✓
East Makaīwa · MauiiNat 7 · GBIF 6 ✓
Honomū, Kuhua · HawaiʻiiNat 5 · GBIF 8 ✓
Waiākea · HawaiʻiiNat 1 · GBIF 9 ✓
Makawao · MauiiNat 2 · GBIF 8 ✓
Hanalei · KauaʻiiNat 4 · GBIF 5 ✓
Kailua · OʻahuiNat 3 · GBIF 5 ✓
Waiʻanae · OʻahuiNat 3 · GBIF 4 ✓
ʻAlaeiki · MauiiNat 1 · GBIF 5 ✓
Waimea, Waikoloa · HawaiʻiiNat 3 · GBIF 2 ✓
Kaloko · HawaiʻiiNat 3 · GBIF 2 ✓
Waiheʻe · MauiiNat 1 · GBIF 3 ✓
Kalauao · OʻahuiNat 1 · GBIF 3 ✓
Waimano · OʻahuiNat 1 · GBIF 3 ✓
ʻŌlaʻa · HawaiʻiiNat 1 · GBIF 3 ✓
Kapoho · HawaiʻiiNat 1 · GBIF 2 ✓
Maunalua · OʻahuiNat 2 · GBIF 1 ✓
Kalāhiki · HawaiʻiiNat 1 · GBIF 2 ✓
Waipiʻo · HawaiʻiiNat 2 · GBIF 1 ✓
Kahaliʻi · HawaiʻiiNat 2 · GBIF 1 ✓
Kahana · OʻahuiNat 2 · GBIF 1 ✓
Honokōwai · MauiiNat 2 · GBIF 1 ✓
Kalapakī · KauaʻiiNat 1 · GBIF 1 ✓
Kahaluʻu · HawaiʻiiNat 1 · GBIF 1 ✓
Punaluʻu · HawaiʻiiNat 1 · GBIF 1 ✓
Waiawa · OʻahuiNat 1 · GBIF 1 ✓
Keahialaka · HawaiʻiiNat 1 · GBIF 1 ✓
Kahauloa 2 · HawaiʻiiNat 1 · GBIF 1 ✓
Mohopilo · MauiiNat 1 · GBIF 1 ✓
Hauʻula · OʻahuiNat 1 · GBIF 1 ✓
Waiāhole · OʻahuiNat 1 · GBIF 1 ✓
Lāwai · KauaʻiiNat 1 · GBIF 1 ✓
Wākiu · MauiiNat 1 · GBIF 1 ✓
Paomai · LānaʻiiNat 1 · GBIF 1 ✓
Kāneʻohe · OʻahuiNat 1 · GBIF 1 ✓
Honuʻapo · HawaiʻiiNat 1 · GBIF 1 ✓
ʻŌuli · HawaiʻiiNat 1 · GBIF 1 ✓
Kamoku · LānaʻiiNat 1 · GBIF 1 ✓
Wailua · HawaiʻiiNat 1 · GBIF 1 ✓