Dracaena Black Knight

Dracaena Black Knight (Dracaena marginata 'Black Knight') is the darkest of the marginata forms, with narrow leaves in near black burgundy held on slim upright canes. It reaches about 2m tall and 1m wide, taking up very little floor space for the height it gives. It is drought tolerant and forgiving, which is why it survives offices and holidays.

Why you'll love it

• Colour you rarely get indoors. The foliage is deep burgundy to almost black, so it reads as a dark accent against pale walls where most indoor plants read green.
• Tall without being wide. About 2m by 1m on slim canes, so it fills a corner or flanks a doorway without crowding furniture.
• It would rather be dry than wet. Drought tolerant and low maintenance, so a missed watering does no harm. Overwatering does.
• You control the height. Cut a cane at any point and it reshoots below the cut, so a leggy plant becomes a fuller one.

Where it works best

Indoors. Any room with a window suits it, and it copes with the middling light of an office or hallway. Colour is deepest in bright indirect light.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A sheltered balcony works in warm gardens, out of harsh afternoon sun. In cooler areas it needs to come inside before winter.

Feature planting. In tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens it can go in the ground as a dark upright accent among green foliage. Dracaena are toxic to cats and dogs, so place it accordingly.

Growing Dracaena Black Knight in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light gives the strongest colour. Low light is tolerated, but growth slows and the burgundy dulls towards green. Outdoors it suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens in part shade. It is frost tender, so anywhere that frosts, keep it potted.

Soil. Free draining premium potting mix, and a drainage hole is not negotiable. Repot every two or three years in spring.

Water and feed. Let the top third of the mix dry out, roughly every 10 to 14 days in warm weather and monthly in winter. They are sensitive to fluoride and salts in tap water, which show as brown leaf tips, so rainwater is worth the effort. Liquid feed monthly in spring and summer only.

Pruning. Cut canes back to the height you want in spring. New shoots break just below the cut, and the top can be struck as a cutting.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 200mm packs of six, 250mm packs of three, single 300mm and 400mm pots, and a 90 litre size for an instant indoor specimen, which is currently on backorder. Smaller sizes carry one or two canes at knee to waist height, while 400mm plants usually have several at staggered heights.

Leaves can crease in transit, though the canes themselves travel well. Give it a bright spot and expect a month of stillness. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our guide to dragon tree care.
• Browse the wider indoor plants range.
• If you have pets, compare plants that are safe around pets.
• See how to keep your indoor plants alive.

Common questions

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

No. Dracaena are toxic to cats and dogs, and chewed leaves bring on drooling, vomiting and lethargy. Keep it out of reach if your pet chews foliage.

Why are the leaf tips going brown?

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

How much light does it really need?

Bright indirect light is best and holds the darkest colour. It will live in a dim corner, but growth almost stops and the leaves lose their depth.

Can I make it bushier?

Yes. Cut a cane back in spring and it will send out two or three new shoots below the cut, the standard fix for a bare stemmed plant.