Dragon Tree

Dracaena Marginata

Characteristics

Culture

Dragon Tree tolerates a wide range of indoor temperatures. For best results, place in bright indirect light locations indoors protected from direct sun and drafts. Tolerates low light, but foliage loses best color in too much shade. Pot may be placed on a bed of wet pebbles to increase humidity. Use a loamy, peaty, well-drained potting soil. Keep soils uniformly moist during the growing season, but reduce watering from fall to late winter. Plants of different heights may be placed in the same container. Tall plants may be trimmed by removing the crown and rooting it.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Dracaena marginata is a very popular houseplant that typically grows to 6’ tall or more over time unless pruned shorter. It features perhaps the narrowest leaves of the various species of dracaena sold in commerce. Slender gray upright stems are topped by tufts of arching, glossy, sword-shaped leaves (to 2’ long and 1/2” wide). Leaves are deep green with narrow reddish edges. Lower leaves fall off with age leaving distinctive diamond-shaped leaf scars on the stems. Fragrant tiny white flowers in spring are followed by spherical yellow-orange berries. Flowers and berries rarely appear on indoor plants. This plant is also sometimes called Spanish dagger or red-stemmed dracaena or Madagascar dragon tree. ‘Tricolor’ is a popular cultivar which adds a thin yellow stripe to each leaf.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for spider mites and scale. Leaves may brown if soils are too moist or too dry.

Garden Uses

Containers for bright indoor locations.

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Courtesy of Missouri Botanical Society Plant Finder