Madagascar Dragon Tree

by Cezanne
(Dongguan, China)

Question:

I am living in china. I recently bought this interesting snake looking tree, maybe some type of palm. Not really too sure what it is.. If you could offer any advice on how to determine what this plant is i would greatly appreciate it. Let me know what you think..!!

thanks again,
cezanne

Answer:

Based on the pictures you have provided, despite its palm-like appearance, this plant appears to be what is commonly known as the Madagascar Dragon Tree, a species of Dracaena. The botanical name is Dracaena marginata.

Dranaenas have long woody stems called canes, topped with long strappy leaves. Leaves can be green or variegated with red or white. Leaf color and size will vary, depending on the species.

Dragon trees make excellent house plants because they are easy to grow and care for. They are slow growers, although they can reach up to 6 feet (1.8 m) tall when grown indoors.

Dracaenas can also be grown in different variations – single cane, staggered cane, bush, or tree form.

Caring for Dracaena marginata

Lighting: Moderate to bright indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight.

Temperature: The ideal temperature range is 65 - 75° F / 18 - 24° C.

Fertilizer: In spring and summer, feed with a houseplant fertilizer every two weeks. In the fall and winter months, only feed once a month.

Watering: Keep soil lightly moist (not soggy) at all times. Avoid overwatering and be sure not to let the plant pot sit in a tray of standing water.

Soil: Any good potting soil.

Repotting: Repot young plants every two years. Mature dragon tree plants should be repotted every two to three years.

Propagation: The Madascar Dragon Tree is easy to shape and propagate. When plant becomes too tall, you can cut off the cane at any height. New leaf cluster will form and grow just below where the cane was cut.

You can also cut sections of the cane into 6 in. / 15 cm pieces and root them as stem cuttings. The ease of propagating Dracaena marginata make them popular plants for sharing with family and friends.

Display Tips: Young plants can be placed on tabletops; however, as dracaenas mature and grow, they are best displayed as exotic floor plants.