Top 10 Types of Dracaena Plants to Grow at Home Decor

Dracaena is a Genus of the Asparagaceae family. The term “dracaena” comes from a Romanized form of old Greek which means female dragon. Their population belongs to Africa, the southern side of Asia, and two species from America.

Dracaena plants can survive in low lights which is why they are best to grow indoors. Their main reason to grow in houses is their appealing leaves and yellowish-white flowers that are rare in household plants. Their growth completely depends on the environment. They grow up to 20 feet tall and more in tropical areas while they remain under 8 feet as houseplants.

 Let’s have a look at a table that describes more about dracaena plants:

Common Name	Common name Dracaena; multiple common names are used for each species
Botanical Name	Dracaena spp.
Family	Asparagaceae
Plant Type	Shrub
Mature Size	2-10 ft. tall, 1-2 ft. wide
Sun Exposure	Partial
Soil Type	Moist, well-drained
Soil pH	Acidic
Hardiness Zones	10–12 (USDA)
Native Area	Asia, Africa, Australia
Toxicity	Toxic to dogs and cats

 

Types of Dracaena Plants

Dracaena plants are classified into two major groups. They are tree-like (fragrans, Draco,

cinnabar) plants that have stems above the ground that branch from tips after flowering. Others are the rhizomatous dracaenas, which have underground rhizomes and their leaves are on the surface.

 

• Dracaena reflexa
• Dracaena deremensis
• Dracaena compacta
• Dracaena fragans
• Dracaena draco
• Dracaena surculosa
• Dracaena angustifolia
• Dracaena steudneri
• Dracaena tornado
• Dracaena lemon lime

Dracaena reflexa

Dracaena reflexa has other names like Song of India or Song of Jamaica. They are natively found on the islands of the Indian Ocean like Madagascar, Mozambique,

Mauritius, etc. Most people like it due to its evergreen leaves and uneven thick stems.

 They commonly reach a height of 4 to 5 m high but their perfect height is 6 m. Dracaena reflexa is slow-growing and upright in habitat, tending to an oval shape with an open crown.

Dracaena compacta

Dracaena compacta called Dracaena janet craig is a low-maintenance tree. Its foliage is tighter than other family members. It is usually found in the southeast side of Africa.

Dracaena Fragans

Dracaena fragans or cornstalk dracaena is a flowering plant that is natively present in tropical Africa, south to Mozambique and southwest to Angola. It has different names like striped dracaena, compact dracaena, and corn plant.

It is a slow-growing multistemmed shrub at the bottom. These shrubs can be 15 m (49 ft) tall or maybe more with a narrow crown and slim erect branches. The flowers are

produced in panicles, pink at first, opening white with a fine red or purple line in the center of each lobe. They are highly fragrant and known for pollinating insects.

 Dracaena draco

Dracaena Draco is called the Canary Islands dragon tree or darco. It is a subtropical tree and is natively found in the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Madeira, and western Morocco. Dragon tree was narrated as Asparagus Draco in 1762 but lately, in 1767 its describer

Carl Linnaeus assigned it to another genus, Dracaena. It is Monocot and its height can be up to 49 ft or more.

 Dracaena surculose

Dracaena surculosa has other names such as gold dust dracaena and spotted dracaena. It is a flowering plant of its family. It is natively found in the west and west central tropical Africa.

It is a branched tree that usually grows up to 4 m in height but in the desired environment it can grow up to 8 m. Its leave’s color ranges from bright green to dark green and is

sometimes filled with white to yellowish dots.

Dracaena angustifolia

Dracaena angustifolia is a asian tropical forest specie. It is found in Bangladesh, through Indo-China and Malesia to northern Australia.

Dracaena angustifolia is a shrub that can grow up to 3 m (9.8 ft) in height. It has yellowish flowers that can be up to 20 millimeters long. It is anciently utilized as medicine for several different diseases.

Dracaena steudneri

Dracaena steudneri is the northern large-leaved dragon tree. It is usually found from Ethiopia to southern tropical Africa. In the past, the name Dracaena steudneri was mistakenly assigned to Dracaena fragrans.

Dracaena tornado

Dracaena tornado is a low-maintenance plant that can be easily grown in homes. It has a beautiful twisted shape with dark green leaves and lime from the corners.

It can grow up to 6 feet in height if desired environment is provided. It is long

long-lasting plant, indoors, and its life can extend over 20 years which makes it a lasting ally in homes and commercial spaces.

Dracaena lemon-lime

Dracaena lemon lime is found in Africa. It has lime green and yellow strip-like leaves. It is native to multiple tropical regions of Africa and Asia, and grown in warm and humid environments.

It is commonly found in small pots that can grow more than 5 feet high in houses. Lemon lime dracaena can add a touch of tropical flair to your space. Lemon lime is usually grown as household plants but can be grown outside. It requires extra care because just like other dracaena plants it is toxic for animals and humans if ingested.

How to care for dracaena plants

Dracaena plants are considered to be less maintained plants, which makes them a perfect choice for enthusiasts to grow in houses and other commercial sites. They flourish in bright light which is not direct but can survive in an area with relatively low light. Providing direct sunlight can burn their leaves.

While watering, allow the upper 1-2 inches of soil to dry out. Excessive water consumption can lead to root damage. Fluoride and chloride in tap water can cause turning leaf tips to brown so use distilled or filtered water.

Most dracaena plants prefer warm and humid indoor environments but occasionally need misting especially in dry environments. Prevent them from a cold place or a place where sudden temperature changes.

Provide your dracaena plants with a balanced fertilizer every month or one and a half months during the growing seasons which are spring and summer. Reduce providing fertilizer in the fall and summer seasons.

Dracaena plants attract different pests like spiders, mites, or mealybugs. Treat immediately with insecticidal soap or neem oil if you notice insects near the plant.

Dracaena plants are toxic and can be dangerous for animals and humans if they ingest it. Ensure that these plants are out of reach if you have pets like cats and dogs in your house.

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