Dracaena is a popular houseplant and the desired choice for most home owners because of its easy care, long, attractive and colourful leaves and availability of multiple varieties, including the lucky bamboo plant. Dracaena is a tropical flowering plant in the Asparagus (Asparagaceae) family and belongs to the class of nearly 120 species of trees and succulent shrubs. Interestingly, the name ‘dracaena’ comes from the ancient Greek word ‘drakaina’, meaning a female dragon. Some plants to attempt are crotons, dumb canes, dracaenas, rubber plants, Norfolk Island pines, Scheffleras, azaleas, magnolias, roses, and Oregon grape hollies.
Dracaena: Quick facts
| Plant name | Dracaena |
| Botanical name | Dracaena |
| Family | Asparagaceae |
| Found in | Africa, tropical central America, southern Asia, Australia |
| Flower | White flowers |
| Foliage | Variety of colours – blue/green, gold, grey or silver, purple or burgundy |
| Benefits | Purifies air and is said to be a good luck plant that brings positive energies |
- The plant is native to Africa. Some species are found in south and central America. Most dracaena species are also found in southern Asia up to northern Australia.
- The plant grows up to 20 ft in its natural tropical conditions. However, the houseplant varieties grow up to eight ft.
- The dracaena plant, when grown in outdoor conditions, produces yellowish-white flowers and subsequently, berries.
- The growing season is from spring through fall.
- Dracaena house plants usually have spear-like or grass-like leaves emerging from one or more stems. These stems grow thick over time.
Dracaena houseplant types
There are over 100 varieties in the dracaena class, varying in size.
Dracaena species are classified into two types based on their growth:
- Treelike dracaenas that include dracaena fragrans, dracaena draco, and dracaena cinnabari. These varieties are characterised by above-ground stems branching out from nodes after flowering or when growth tip is severed.
- Rhizomatous dracaenas that include dracaena trifasciata and dracaena angolensis. These varieties have underground rhizomes with strap-like or cylindrical leaves on the surface.
Types of Dracaenas
Dracaena fragrans – Corn plant
They are characterised by strap-like leaves and thick woody stems, forming a fountain-like cluster. These varieties grow up to six ft in height in pots and over 20 ft in outdoor conditions.
Dracaena marginata – Dragon tree
This variety of dracaena has thin, grass-like leaves on multiple thick stems.
Dracaena sanderiana – Lucky bamboo
A popular houseplant of the dracaena species, this variety can be grown to form curled stems by altering the direction of sunlight. The plant can be restricted up to only a few inches in height, or it can be allowed to reach several ft in height.
Dracaena deremensis
These plants are grown widely and are large when grown outdoors.
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Cordyline fruticosa – Cabbage tree
Cordyline fruticosa is also known as the Ti tree, or Ti plant. This dracaena variety is a plant with a palm-like appearance. It has thick, strappy leaves forming a fountain-like cluster growing on a slender woody stem. The spear-like leaves come in multiple hues and bend from the base of the plant.
Cordyline australis (Cabbage palm)
Popular as dracaena, this variety is found as a large tree in its native environment. The immature plant varieties, commonly called dracaena spikes, are grown as houseplants. The plant comprises thin, coloured and grass-like leaves forming an arch-like or fountain-life arrangement.
What is Dracaena Massangeana?
Dracaena Massangeana or Dracaena fragrans is a plant variety of the Dracaena plant family. It produces scented flowers. The plant grows well indoors and outdoors. It requires well-draining soil and adequate sunlight, and can be kept even in direct sunlight.
Massangeana cultivars, commonly called Mass Cane, are characterised by bright-yellow central stripe on their leaves.
What is Dracaena Sanderiana?
Dracaena Sanderiana is a flowering plant of the Dracaena genus and belongs to Asparagaceae family. Widely known as the lucky bamboo, the plant is also referred to by different names such as Sander’s dracaena, curly bamboo, ribbon dracaena, Chinese water bamboo, Goddess of Mercy’s plant, and Belgian evergreen. It is a perennial shrub, which can grow up to a height of 100 cm or 39 inches. It is characterised by greenish-grey leaves, which are slightly twisted, with a size of 23 cm or 9 inches. Unlike bamboo, the Dracaena Sanderiana plant has a fleshy stem.
Dracaena plant benefits
- Good luck: The dracaena sanderiana variety or lucky bamboo, is believed to bring luck, wealth and prosperity to a house. Placing the plant increases the flow of positive energies, as per Feng Shui and Vastu Shastra.
- Air purifier: Dracaena is one of the indoor plants that help reduce indoor pollution levels.
- Increase humidity: The plant releases water vapour and increases moisture levels in air, thus, reducing dry-air conditions.
- Ornamental purpose: These indoor plants help beautify home interiors. You can keep them inside the house, in the patio or garden.
- Low maintenance: The dracaena plant varieties are easy to grow with moderate watering and sunlight conditions.
Dracaena: How to care for the plant?
Soil
The plants grow well in the ordinary commercial potting mix inside large, well-draining containers. You can grow dracaena in a peat-based commercial potting mix with slight acidity. Choose rich and well-drained gardening soil if you are cultivating the plants in tropical landscape areas.
Fertiliser
Choose a water-soluble fertiliser for houseplants and apply it once a month in the growing season. Avoid feeding when the plant growth slows down in another season.
Repotting
Repot the plant to a container larger than the existing one. Repotting is necessary if you notice that the plant begins to lift-up or roots emerge through the drainage holes.
Pruning
Pruning may be done to restrict the dracaena plants for a desired shape and height. However, it must be done during the active growth season. Dead or yellowish leaves must be removed regularly.
Sunlight
Dracaena plant requires bright but indirect sunlight. They can withstand direct sunlight for a short time.
Humidity
Dracaena prefers a tropical climate and relatively high humidity levels. Hence, growing plants indoors could pose problems, especially in the dry winter season. You can use a room humidifier to tackle dry-air conditions.
Temperature
The temperature suited for most dracaena species is around 21 to 26 degrees Celsius (70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit). Avoid exposure to a temperature below 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit).
Watering
The plant must be moist in its growing season. In winter months, let the plant become drier to avoid damage. Water the plant every week and let the excess water drain out. For this, you can place the container onto a tray or a basin. Watering in winter must be done moderately, once in two weeks.
FAQs
Are Dracaena plants poisonous to dogs?
Dracaena may be toxic to cats and dogs owing to the presence of saponins, a chemical produced by the plant.
Will Dracaena root in water?
You can place dracaena cuttings in water inside a container without drainage holes. Allow a few weeks for roots to start growing.