Janet Craig Dracaena

Janet Craig Dracaena (Dracaena fragrans 'Janet Craig') is the plant for the corner that never sees direct sun. Deep glossy leaves arch from upright canes, and over several years it lifts to about 1.8m tall while staying around 1m across. Few indoor plants handle low light this well, and fewer forgive a fortnight of neglect.

Why you'll love it

• A genuine low light performer. Most plants sold for dim rooms merely endure them. This one keeps pushing new leaves well back from a window.
• Height without bulk. At roughly 1.8m tall and 1m wide it fills vertical space beside a lounge without taking over the floor.
• It copes with missed waterings. The thick canes hold their own reserves, so it is drought tolerant once settled and a holiday does no damage.
• Foliage that stays sharp. No variegation to fade in shade, and a monthly wipe with a damp cloth keeps the leaves glossy.

Where it works best

Indoors. Apartments, rentals, offices, stairwells and hallways anywhere in the country. Inside, your climate stops mattering, which counts for a plant this frost tender.

Pots and containers. Give it a pot at least 300mm wide with a working drainage hole. It is content in the same pot for three or four years.

Feature planting outdoors. Tropical and subtropical gardens can take it in a sheltered shaded bed. Anywhere that frosts, keep it inside.

Growing Janet Craig Dracaena in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light gives the fastest growth, though it holds condition in genuinely low light. Keep it out of hot sun through glass, which scorches the leaves. Outdoors, partial shade only.

Soil. A premium free draining potting mix is all it asks. Wet feet are the main way these plants are lost, so tip the saucer out after watering.

Water and feed. Water once the top 3cm of mix is dry: roughly weekly in summer, every two to three weeks over winter. Dracaenas react badly to fluoride and salts in tap water, which is what browns the tips, so use rainwater where you can. A slow release fertiliser once in spring is plenty.

Pruning. Rarely needed at this growth rate. If a cane gets too tall, cut it at any height and it reshoots just below the cut, often with two heads instead of one.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in four sizes: 200mm in packs of six, 250mm in packs of three, a single 300mm plant, and a 400mm specimen. The smaller pots arrive as multi stemmed clumps around knee height. The 300mm and 400mm plants can go straight into a decorative pot.

Tough leaves mean dracaenas travel well, though a yellow lower leaf after transit is normal. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to keep your indoor plants alive
• Best low light plants for the home
• Browse the wider low light indoor plant range
• Pair it with an indoor pot that drains properly

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Dracaena leaves contain saponins, toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, bringing on drooling, vomiting and loss of appetite. Keep it well off floor level if your pet chews foliage.

How dark a room can it handle?

It holds its shape and colour in a room lit only by indirect daylight, such as a hallway or a bathroom with a small window. Growth stops in true darkness, so some natural light must reach it.

Why are the leaf tips going brown?

Nine times out of ten it is the tap water, as fluoride and salts build up in the mix. Flush the pot through every few months and trim the brown edges back with scissors.

How fast does it grow?

Slowly. Expect 10 to 20cm of height a year in good light, so reaching 1.8m takes the better part of a decade.