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