Cordyline fruticosa

ti plant

Rhizomes (underground stems) of the ti plant have been used as a food source for centuries, especially in Polynesia. These large starchy plant parts serve as storage organs, are sweet when the plant is mature, and are usually prepared by boiling or baking, although they would no doubt be good fried as well. Because of their usefulness and cultural / religious significance, Polynesians brought ti plants with them to every island they colonized; ancient stands of the plants on an island indicate a Polynesian presence was likely once established there.

The wide leaves have been used as a wrapping for food, packaging, as footwear, rain capes, roof thatching, symbols of status, plates, cups, costumes, decorations, and to preserve breadfruit. The most important material use of the plant, however, is probably the Hawaiian hula skirt, which is made using approximately 50 ti leaves. Here's a video showing how it's done:

The ti plant is a symbol of purity and spiritual power in Hawaii and is therefore planted around houses, made into healers’ leis, and used in ceremonial blessings (in ancient Hawaii, only kahuna (high priests) and ali’i (chiefs) could wear these leaves during certain rituals). Ti plants were grown around temples of the medicine god Lono and the hula goddess Laka. Priests wear leaves as leis or clothing when conducting ancient ceremonial rituals. Leaves have been traditionally worn or carried to protect oneself from evil spirits and summon good spirits. Here's a clip of a ti leaf lei being made in Hawaii:

Leaves have been wrapped around warm stones to serve as hot packs, made into poultices, and applied to fevered brows. For more severe fevers, ti leaves are used to cover the entire body until the fever breaks. A drink made from boiled leaves is used to relax nerves and muscles. Leaves may also be used as a wrapping for medicinal plants that need to be steamed or boiled.

Baked rhizomes are fermented and distilled to make a liquor known as Okolehao, which tastes like brandy. Beer made from the boiled roots was used to cure scurvy (and monotony).

Leaves have also been used to feed cattle and horses, as a covering lu’au tables, as flower arrangement foliage, and to line lava sledding courses in Hawaii. Lava sledding has been a traditional sport and ritual for native Hawaiians, and while I had initially imagined natives riding waves of bright orange molten lava, it is actually riding down slopes of solid lava rock. That’s not to say it isn’t dangerous, though. The “sled” is only about six inches wide and sledding speeds can reach over 50mph.

Ti plants prefer partial shade, high humidity, and mesic soil.