Cordyline are common decorative plants that make excellent houseplants and thrive outdoors in hardiness zones 9 to 12. They typically have leathery, spear- or lance-shaped leaves with a variety of coloring, including green, red, yellow, white, purple, and purplish-red. Some species in this group have fragrant, cuplike flowers followed by berries. Care for these plants indoors is simple and straightforward, but they must be kept warm, they need a lot of light.