Dracaena Marginata
Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia · also called Dragon tree, Madagascar dragon tree, Dracaena marginata
A slim, spiky tree that fits a corner with little floor space
- Light
- Bright indirect, Medium light: Grows best in bright indirect, copes with medium light
- Water
- Every 2-3 weeks, when the top half of the soil is dry
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Pet safety
- Toxic to cats and dogs
- Size
- Large
- Height
- 4-8 ft indoors over many years
- Growth
- Slow
- Humidity
- Average home humidity is fine
- Temperature
- 65-80°F
- Good rooms
- Bedroom, Living room, Office
Tall plants usually eat a lot of floor space. This one does not. A dragon tree grows thin, bendy trunks topped with tufts of narrow, pointed leaves, a bit like a palm drawn by a child. Many leaves have a thin red edge, and some types add cream or pink stripes. A large plant can reach 6 feet indoors and still fit in a pot not much wider than a bucket.
It suits people who want height without giving up much floor or time. It handles a missed watering well, and it can live in medium light, though it grows slowly there. Over the years the trunks twist and lean toward the window, which many owners like more than a straight, tidy tree. You can also cut back a trunk that gets too tall. The stump usually sprouts two or three new heads.
A few honest warnings. The ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats and dogs. The leaf tips brown easily, mostly from fluoride or salt in tap water, or from soil left bone dry for too long. Lower leaves also yellow and drop as the trunk grows, so a bare stem with a tuft on top is normal, not a sign you failed. You may see it labeled with a newer name, Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia. Most stores still sell it as marginata.
Dracaena Marginata care
Light
Bright indirect light keeps the leaf colors strong and the growth steady. A spot near an east or west window is ideal. It copes with medium light, but new leaves come in thinner and the red edges fade. Keep it out of strong afternoon sun through glass, which burns the leaves.
Watering
Let the top half of the soil dry before you water. In most homes that means every 2-3 weeks, a little more often in bright summer light. Water slowly until it drains, then empty the saucer. Soggy soil is the fastest way to lose this plant. Filtered water or rainwater helps keep the tips green.
Soil and pot
A regular indoor potting mix with some perlite or bark works well. The pot needs a drainage hole. Since the plant can get top heavy, a heavy clay or ceramic pot is a smart choice. Wide pots hold extra wet soil, so pick one that is fairly snug around the roots.
Humidity and temperature
Average home humidity is fine, and it does not need misting. Very dry winter air can add to brown tips, so keep it away from heat vents and radiators. It dislikes cold drafts below about 50°F, which can cause sudden leaf drop.
Feeding
Dragon trees grow slowly and want little. Two or three feeds between April and August with a balanced houseplant fertilizer will do. Dracaenas are sensitive to fluoride, so avoid plant foods that contain superphosphate, which can carry it. Brown leaf tips are the classic sign of salt or fluoride buildup. A couple of times a year, soak the pot with rain or distilled water and let it drain.
Repotting
Repot every two to three years in spring, when roots circle the pot. Go up only one size. It does not mind a snug pot, and an oversized one stays wet too long. Tie floppy trunks to a stake for a few weeks after repotting until the roots settle.
Propagation
Cut off a top tuft with a few inches of stem and stand it in water or damp mix. Roots form in about a month. Pieces of bare trunk also root if you keep the right end up. The old stump left in the pot usually sprouts new tufts below the cut.
Common problems
Why are the tips of the leaves dry and brown?
Fluoride and salt in tap water, too much food, or soil that stayed dry too long are the usual causes. Switch to filtered water, flush the soil, and trim the tips at an angle.
Why are so many lower leaves falling off?
A few old leaves dropping is normal as the trunk grows. A sudden shower of leaves often means too much water or a cold draft, so check the soil and the spot.
Why is the trunk soft at the base?
That is rot from wet soil. Cut off any healthy top tufts and root them, since a mushy trunk rarely recovers.
Why are the new leaves thin and pale?
Too little light. Move the plant closer to a window. Old leaves will not change, but new ones should come in fuller.
Frequently asked questions
Can I cut my dragon tree to make it shorter?
Yes. Cut the trunk at the height you want in spring. New tufts sprout below the cut within a few weeks, and you can root the top.
Is it the same as a corn plant?
They are close relatives, but the corn plant has wide, floppy leaves. Dragon tree leaves are narrow and stiff.
Will a dragon tree get much taller each year?
Slowly, often a few inches to a foot a year in good light. In medium light it may barely change in a season.
Not sure this plant fits your home?
Take a plant quizSources: www.aspca.org, aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu, list.worldfloraonline.org
