Family: Agavaceae

This genus comprises around 40 species of trop­ical, evergreen plants grown both indoors and outdoors for their foliage and often architectural form. They are quite variable: some are slender and spiky, while others are soft and shrubby. They are very popular as house plants as they do particularly well indoors, and they are also widely used for decorating conservato­ries. Their original habitats are also diverse as they may come from forest, scrub or open plain. In the main, they are native to tropical and West Africa, and also the Canary Islands.

Species

D. draco, dragon tree, grows to 10 m (33 ft), with dull gray-green leaves to 60 cm (24 in) long. It is a very long-lived tree, becom­ing wide-crowned and umbrella-shaped as it ages, if grown in an open position. Mature trees produce white flowers followed by bright orange fruits. The resin from the stems is used in varnishes and photoengraving.

D. fragrans, happy plant, to at least 4 m (13 ft), has long, pointed leaves. Many cultivars with many leaf variegations are available and popular, such as the Deremensis Group (Synonym: D. Deremensis), with very diverse variegation, and 'Mlass­angeana' which has very distinctive, yellow-striped leaves.

D. marginata is a slender, robust plant to 5 m (16 ft) high, with narrow, sharp-pointed leaves to 60 cm (24 in) long. It grows well indoors in a dimly lit position.

D. surculosa (Synonym: D. godseffiana), gold dust dracaena or spotted dracaena, is attractive, with green leaves irregularly spotted in white, pale gold or cream. It grows 1-1.5 m (3-5 ft).

Cultivation

In frosty areas, grow in an interme­diate to warm greenhouse or conservatory, in pots of soilless or soil-based potting compost. Plants, especially the variegated kinds, need good light but shade from direct sun. Provide a humid atmosphere. Propagate from stem sec­tions without leaves, or from semi-ripe cut­tings, in summer. They need basal heat to root.

Climate

Zone 10 at least.