Dracaena (plant)


Dracaena is a genus of about 200–220 species of trees and succulent shrubs. The formerly accepted genera Pleomele and Sansevieria are now included in Dracaena. In the APG IV classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Convallarioideae. It has also formerly been separated into the family Dracaenaceae or kept in the Agavaceae.
The name dracaena is derived from the Latinised form of the Ancient Greek δράκαινα – drakaina, "female dragon".
The Plants of the World Online database accepts 214 species as of 2025. The majority of the species are native to Africa, southern Asia, and northern Australia, but also seven species in Hawai'i, and two in tropical Central America.

Description

Dracaena species can have two growth types: arborescent dracaenas, which have stout above-ground stems to around 20 metres tall that branch from nodes after flowering, or if the growth tip is severed; and rhizomatous dracaenas, which have underground rhizomes and leaves on the surface, ranging from straplike to cylindrical.
The arborescent species of Dracaena have a secondary thickening meristem in their trunks, termed Dracaenoid thickening by some authors, which is quite different from the thickening meristem found in dicotyledonous plants. This characteristic is shared with some members of the Agavoideae, Lomandroideae, and Xanthorrhoeoideae among other members of the Asparagales.
Many species of Dracaena are kept as houseplants due to tolerance of low light and sparse watering.

Selected species

Dracaena aethiopica Byng & Christenh.Dracaena afromontana Mildbr.Dracaena aletriformis Bos Dracaena americana Donn.Sm. – Central America dragon treeDracaena angolensis Byng & Christenh.Dracaena angustifolia Roxb.Dracaena arborea LinkDracaena arborescens Byng & Christenh.Dracaena aubrytiana Byng & Christenh.Dracaena aurea H.MannDracaena bagamoyensis Byng & Christenh.Dracaena ballyi Byng & Christenh.Dracaena braunii Engl. Dracaena cinnabari Balf.f. – Socotra dragon treeDracaena cochinchinensis S.C.Chen Dracaena draco L. – Canary Islands dragon treeDracaena eilensis Byng & Christenh.Dracaena ellenbeckiana Engl. - Kedong Dracaena Dracaena elliptica Thunb. & Dalm.Dracaena fernaldii JankalskiDracaena forbesii JankalskiDracaena fragrans Ker Gawl. – striped dracaena, compact dracaena, corn plant, cornstalk dracaenaDracaena ghiesbreghtii W.Bull ex J.J.BlandyDracaena goldieana Bullen ex Mast. & T.MooreDracaena halapepe JankalskiDracaena hallii Byng & Christenh.Dracaena hanningtonii Baker Dracaena jayniana Wilkin & SuksathanDracaena kaweesakii Wilkin & SuksathanDracaena konaensis JankalskiDracaena malawiana Byng & Christenh.Dracaena mannii BakerDracaena masoniana Byng & Christenh.Dracaena ombet Heuglin ex Kotschy & Peyr. – Gabal Elba dragon treeDracaena ovata Ker Gawl.Dracaena pearsonii Byng & Christenh.Dracaena pethera Byng & Christenh.Dracaena pinguicula Byng & Christenh.Dracaena reflexa Lam. – Pleomele dracaena or "Song of India"

Formerly regarded as ''Dracaena''

Asparagus asparagoides Druce Clintonia borealis Rat. Cordyline australis Endl. Cordyline fruticosa A.Chev. Cordyline indivisa Steud. Cordyline obtecta Baker Cordyline stricta Endl. Dianella ensifolia DC. Liriope graminifolia Baker Lomandra filiformis Britten

Uses

Ornamental

Some shrubby species, such as D. fragrans, D. surculosa, D. marginata, and D. sanderiana, are popular as houseplants. Many of these are toxic to pets, though not humans, according to the ASPCA among others. Rooted stem cuttings of D. sanderiana are sold as "lucky bamboo", although only superficially resembling true bamboos.
Dracaena houseplants like humidity and moderate watering. They can tolerate periods of drought but the tips of the leaves may turn brown. Leaves at the base will naturally yellow and drop off, leaving growth at the top and a bare stem. Dracaena are vulnerable to mealybugs and scale insects.

Other

A naturally occurring bright red resin, dragon's blood, is collected from D. draco and, in ancient times, from D. cinnabari. Modern dragon's blood is, however, more likely to be from the unrelated Calamus rattan palms, formerly placed in Daemonorops. It also has social functions in marking graves, sacred sites, and farm plots in many African societies.