Canna-leaved Palm-lily

Cordyline cannifolia is an open, erect, often single-stemmed shrub which generally grows to a height of about 3 m (9.8 ft), although it may reach 5 m (16 ft). The stem and branches carry numerous scars where leaves were attached. Large simple leaves are produced towards the end of the stem and branches, and are arranged alternately. They are mid green above, and the underside is matt blue-green (glaucous) with the numerous secondary veins quite apparent. The leaves measure between about 20 and 50 cm (8 and 20 in) long and about 5 to 12 cm (2.0 to 4.7 in) wide, and are held on a petiole that may be anywhere between 5 and 20 cm (2 and 8 in) long. The petiole is "grooved" above, often so much so that it has a U-shaped cross section, and the base clasps the stem, overlapping the petiole base of the younger leaf above it. The inflorescence is a panicle up to 25 cm (10 in) long, with numerous flowers attached to it by short stalks about 2 mm (0.08 in) long. The flowers have five petals about 7 mm (0.28 in) long, five stamens and one style. The red fruit are, in botanical terms, a berry about 1 cm (0.4 in) diameter with up to six small black seeds inside.

Collections of this species have been made along almost the entire east coast of Queensland, from the top of Cape York Peninsula south to K'gari (Fraser Island), but the bulk of the collections are in or near the Wet Tropics bioregion around Cairns. It also occurs in the northeastern part of the Northern Territory, and there is a single record of collection from Papua New Guinea on GBIF. The latter is considered to be doubtful. The plant inhabits rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest, at altitudes from sea level to about 1,200 m (3,900 ft).