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Dragon Trees and Dracaenas

Dracaenas cover two very different needs. Outdoors, the Dragon Tree is one of the great architectural plants, a thick trunked, spiky crowned specimen for hot, dry gardens that asks for almost nothing. Indoors, its relatives are the plants that survive offices: tall canes and slim trunks that tolerate low light and missed waterings. This range includes both, from 1.5m indoor forms to a 4m garden feature. Decide where it will live first. Delivered Australia wide.

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How to choose a dracaena

For the garden there is one choice, and it is a spectacular one. The Dragon Tree grows slowly to about 4m, branching only after it flowers, until it forms a wide umbrella of blue green swords on a stout grey trunk. It is a plant for decades, in the ground or in a large pot.

Indoors, choose by light. Janet Craig and Compact Dragon Tree have deep green leaves and handle the dimmest corners. The Corn Plant, sold as single or multi planted canes, carries a yellow stripe and suits moderate light. The Madagascar Dragon Tree, with its thin trunks and narrow red edged leaves, and its coloured forms Colorama and Black Knight, want a brighter spot, as do Song of India and Malay Stripe.

Where dracaenas work

The Dragon Tree, Dracaena draco, comes from the Canary Islands and loves full sun, heat and dry air. It thrives in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane in sharply drained soil, and tolerates light frost once established. It is a natural centrepiece among architectural plants, gravel gardens and succulents. The indoor species want stable warmth and bright, indirect light, though most cope with less, which is why they feature in our low light indoor plants. Keep them away from cold draughts.

Planting and spacing

Give a Dragon Tree 3m of clear space and plant it slightly high in gritty soil or a raised bed. In a pot, use a cactus and succulent mix. Indoor dracaenas prefer to be snug: move them up one pot size only when roots fill the container, using a premium indoor mix.

Care basics

The common mistake is overwatering. Indoors, water when the top half of the mix is dry, then drain fully. Brown leaf tips usually come from fluoride or salts in tap water, so use rainwater or filtered water if tips keep burning. Feed monthly in the warm months. Outdoors, water a Dragon Tree through its first summer and after that only in long droughts. The dragon tree care guide has more on both.

Common questions

How fast does a Dragon Tree grow?

Slowly: 10cm to 20cm a year. It takes ten years or more to branch, which is why advanced specimens are prized.

Are dracaenas safe for pets?

No. Dracaenas are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed and can cause vomiting. Keep them out of reach of pets.

Why are the leaf tips brown?

Usually fluoride or salt build up from tap water, or very dry air. Switch to rainwater and flush the pot thoroughly every few months.

Can indoor dracaenas go outside?

In warm, frost free areas they grow well on a shaded patio. Direct sun scorches the leaves of the indoor types.