Dracaena draco

Sunset

Dracaena draco

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Zones 16, 17, 21-25, 27, H1, H2

Full, Partial

Moderate, Minimal

Dragon Tree
Agavaceae
Evergreen, Shrubs, Trees

DRACAENA

Foliage plants most widely grown indoors or on patio or lanai. Many resemble palms. Some show graceful, fountainlike form with broad, curved, ribbonlike leaves, occasionally striped with chartreuse or white. Others have very stiff, sword-shaped leaves. Outdoors, give all but D. draco a wind-protected site. In containers, water only when top 1/2 –1 in. of soil is dry. Almost never bloom as houseplants.

For other plants often called dracaena, see Cordyline.

Dracaena draco

Native to Canary Islands. Stout trunk with upward-reaching or spreading branches topped by clusters of heavy, 2-ft.-long, sword-shaped leaves. Grows slowly to 20 ft. high and as wide. Makes odd but interesting silhouette. Clusters of greenish white flowers form at branch ends. After blossoms drop, stemmy clusters remain; trim these off to keep plants neat.