Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

variegated cordyline

Variegated cordyline is a standout choice for New Zealand gardens, bringing instant colour and a lush, exotic look to any outdoor space. These striking plants combine spectacular foliage with easy-care requirements, making them favourites for gardeners of all skill levels. Known for their vibrant stripes, splashes, and bands of cream, green, pink, and sometimes even purple, variegated cordylines brighten up garden beds, pots, borders, and even indoor spaces.

Cordyline australis albertii plants with variegated foliage.

Cordyline albertii

Cordyline albertii (Variegated Cabbage Tree) is a striking evergreen tree admired for its bold green leaves edged with creamy white variegation. This eye catching form adds brightness and structure to New Zealand gardens while maintaining a strong architectural presence. Ideal for feature planting or adding height to mixed landscapes, it delivers year round interest. Hardy and adaptable once established, it is a superb choice for creating a tropical inspired look.

Buy Cordyline albertii

From $343.89

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Trees

Height: 2.50 m

Spread: 1.50 m

Flowering time: Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy

Garden uses: Containers, Living areas, Parks, Ponds, Pool areas, Screening, Specimen

Garden styles: Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Native, Tropical

Cordyline Showoff

Cordyline 'Showoff' is a vibrant, clump-forming variety renowned for its striking, variegated foliage in pink, red, and green, which adds instant impact to New Zealand gardens. Growing to around 1–1.2 metres tall, it forms a compact, tidy shape perfect for borders, containers, or accent planting. This evergreen plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. Hardy to light frosts and tolerant of coastal conditions, 'Showoff' is a low-maintenance choice for year-round colour.

Buy Cordyline Showoff

From $34.43

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 2.00 m

Spread: 60 cm

Garden uses: Containers, Living areas, Parks, Pool areas, Specimen

Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Tropical

What is a Variegated Cordyline?

A variegated cordyline refers to any cordyline variety with multi-coloured foliage—often featuring contrasting edges, stripes, or central bands. These plants belong to the Cordyline genus, native to the Pacific and hugely popular in New Zealand. Variegated forms like the renowned Cordyline albertii offer spectacular year-round interest, and their unique patterns create a dramatic focal point in any planting scheme.

Top Variegated Cordyline Varieties

New Zealand nursery collections include a stunning selection of variegated cordyline varieties. Some of our favourites are:

Cordyline Pink Diamond: Admired for its arching leaves striped with cream, green, and pink. The colourful foliage creates bold contrast in containers and borders.
Cordyline 'Can Can': This playful variety features candy-pink margins against rich olive-green centres, perfect for a shot of whimsy in the garden.
Cordyline Showoff: True to its name, this variety boasts vivid cream and green stripes with a hint of blush, making it an instant eye-catcher.
Cordyline Chardonnay: With its soft lemon-yellow and green variegation, Chardonnay fits beautifully into tropical or contemporary garden designs.

How to Grow and Care for Variegated Cordyline

Variegated cordylines are prized not only for their dazzling looks but also for their resilience. Plant them in free-draining soil in a sunny to partially shaded site. While they tolerate coastal wind and light frost, provide shelter from harsh southerly exposure for the best colour display. Regular watering (but not waterlogged roots) keeps their colours bright, especially during dry spells. A slow-release fertiliser in spring helps encourage lush new foliage growth.

Variegated cordyline suits both garden beds and container gardens. Use them as feature plants against plain-leaved shrubs or as vibrant statement pieces on a deck or patio. They also add a tropical flair to entranceways and urban courtyards.

Landscape Uses for Variegated Cordyline

Thanks to their sculptural shape and vivid colours, variegated cordylines are outstanding for injecting structure and drama into a planting scheme. Pair them with low, green groundcovers for emphasis, or cluster several varieties like Cordyline Pink Diamond, Cordyline 'Can Can', and Cordyline Showoff for a colourful foliage tapestry. They combine beautifully with flaxes, grasses, and other subtropical favourites.

Ready to Transform Your Garden?

Whether you're seeking a striking container plant or a hardy landscape anchor, variegated cordyline is a vibrant, easy-care solution for New Zealand gardens. Explore our full range, including Cordyline albertii and Cordyline Chardonnay, to bring vivid colour and bold texture to your home landscape.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.