Dracaena
Dracaena marginata
Also called the Madagascar Dragon Tree — slender upright trunks topped with arching tufts of narrow sword-shaped leaves edged in red. Sculptural, architectural, and tough enough to handle under-watering and typical indoor dry air. Grows slowly to 2–3 m indoors. Looks especially good as a multi-stemmed specimen.
Quick Facts
Distribution
Indoor (native to Madagascar)
Light
Bright indirect light; tolerates lower light
Bloom Time
Rarely flowers indoors
Soil
Well-draining potting mix with added perlite
Water
When top 2–3 cm of soil is dry; sensitive to fluoride — use filtered or rainwater if leaf tips brown
Toxic to Pets— Saponins — can cause drooling, vomiting, weakness in cats & dogs (dose-dependent)
Growing & Cultivation
Propagation
Cut off the top tuft and root in water (top cutting) — roots form in 3–4 weeks. The bare cane below will sprout new heads.
