Colorama Dragon Tree

Colorama Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata 'Colorama') is the indoor plant for a corner that needs height but has no floor space to give. It grows slowly to about 2.5m tall and only 1m across, on slim cane stems topped with narrow leaves striped in cream, green and hot pink. It tolerates dry indoor air and long gaps between waterings.

Why you'll love it

• Tall and narrow by nature. At roughly 2.5m by 1m it fills a corner beside a stairwell or sofa without spreading into the room.
• The colour is in the leaf. Cream and pink edges on a green centre give year round colour with no flowers to wait for.
• It forgives a missed watering. The thick cane stores water, so a fortnight away is not a problem. Overwatering does far more damage than forgetting.
• Easy to reshape. Cut a cane at any height and it branches from just below the cut.

Where it works best

Indoors. Bright indirect light near an east or south facing window gives the strongest pink. It holds on in lower light, but the colour fades toward green.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. Outdoors it needs a frost free position, so it suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, or a pot further south that comes under cover for winter. A 400mm pot holds one plant for several years.

Feature planting. Three canes of staggered height in one pot give the layered look you see in hotel foyers.

Growing Colorama Dragon Tree in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light indoors, or dappled shade outside; hot direct sun through glass scorches the leaf edges. It is frost tender, so anywhere colder than warm temperate it lives inside or comes under cover before winter.

Soil. A free draining premium potting mix opened up with perlite or coarse sand. The pot must have a drainage hole; sitting in a decorative sleeve that holds water kills one fast.

Water and feed. Water when the top third of the mix is dry, roughly every ten to fourteen days in summer and every three to four weeks in winter. Dracaenas are sensitive to fluoride and salts, so rainwater keeps the leaf tips cleaner than tap water. Feed at half strength monthly through spring and summer only.

Pruning. Optional. Cut the cane back to the height you want in spring and new heads shoot from below the cut within six to eight weeks.

What to expect when it arrives

Colorama comes in three sizes: a 200mm pack of six, a 250mm pack of three, and a single 300mm plant. The 200mm and 250mm plants are young, usually one or two canes under a metre. The 300mm plant is the one to buy for presence in one spot straight away.

Expect a few lower leaves to yellow and drop in the first fortnight while it adjusts to your light, which is normal. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Everything about dragon tree care
• Browse the full indoor plant range
• More plants with variegated foliage
• Plants that suit balconies and courtyards

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Dracaena leaves are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, bringing on drooling, vomiting and loss of appetite. Keep the pot out of reach if you have a pet that nibbles foliage.

Why are the leaf tips going brown?

Usually fluoride and salt build up from tap water, sometimes dry air. Water with rainwater or filtered water where you can, flush the pot every few months, and trim the brown tips with scissors.

Can I keep it shorter than 2.5m?

Yes. Cut the cane at whatever height suits the room in spring and it branches from just below the cut. The removed top can be struck as a cutting in damp mix.