Dragon Tree

The Dragon Tree is what you plant when a garden needs one strong shape, not more foliage. Dracaena draco builds a stout grey trunk topped with rosettes of stiff blue-green leaves, reaching about 4m tall and 3m wide over ten to fifteen years. It is genuinely slow, and that is the appeal: it holds its proportions for decades.

Why you'll love it

• Sculptural straight away. Even a young plant reads as garden architecture, so you get the effect immediately.
• Serious drought tolerance. Once established it runs on rainfall, needing a deep soak only in a long dry spell.
• Built for heat, wind and salt air. Exposed coastal blocks and hot western walls suit it well.
• Slow enough for small gardens. About 4m in ten to fifteen years, so it fits a courtyard.
• Almost nothing to do. No pruning, no shaping, no spraying. Low maintenance here means the plant looks after itself.

Where it works best

As a single feature. One Dragon Tree in gravel or low succulents does more work than a group of shrubs. Allow 3m of clear width for the canopy and keep it 2m back from paths and walls.

In a large pot. Slow, undemanding roots make it a strong long-term container plant. Use a pot at least 60cm across with a free draining cactus and succulent mix.

Coastal, poolside and rockeries. Salt spray does not mark the foliage and there is almost no leaf litter, so it is easy beside a pool. Sharp rockery drainage suits it too.

Growing the Dragon Tree in Australia

Position. Full sun, six hours or more. It survives part shade but the rosettes open out and lose their tight form.

Soil. Drainage is the one thing it will not forgive. Sandy and gravelly soils are ideal. On clay, plant into a raised mound at least 30cm high with coarse sand worked through the backfill.

Watering. Water deeply once a week through the first summer, fortnightly in the second year, then only in extended dry weather. More are lost to overwatering than to drought.

Feeding and pruning. One handful of slow release fertiliser in early spring is plenty, and no pruning is needed.

Climate. Subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens suit it best. It takes light frost only, so in cool temperate districts keep it potted against a north-facing wall and shelter it on the coldest nights. In wet tropical gardens, humidity and summer rain can rot the crown.

What to expect when it arrives

Plants are container grown and travel well, because the foliage is stiff and carries little water weight. A few lower leaves may look creased after transit. That is normal and they are shed within a season. Water it in on arrival, then leave it alone for a fortnight. Expect character rather than height in the first year or two.

We deliver Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Dragon Tree care and maintenance guide
• Browse all drought tolerant plants
• Plants for coastal and salt exposed gardens
• More plants that thrive in containers

Common questions

How quickly does it grow?

Slowly, and that is the point. Expect about 4m in ten to fifteen years in a warm garden, less again in a pot. The huge specimens in photographs are centuries old plants in their native Canary Islands habitat.

Can I keep it in a pot permanently?

For a very long time, yes. In a container of 60cm or more with free draining mix it stays comfortable for years, simply growing more slowly. Repot only once the roots fill the pot.

Is it safe around pets?

No. Dracaena species are toxic to cats and dogs if the leaves are chewed. Site it away from where pets dig or graze.

Does it flower?

Mature plants send up sprays of small white and green flowers, usually followed by orange berries. It takes many years to reach flowering age, so treat it as a bonus.