Dragon Tree (Dracaena) is easily propagated from seeds offered by the GreenDealer Exotic Seeds Selection of Tropical Houseplants.

This genus of tropical, ornamental, evergreen plants belongs to the Agavaceae or Agave Family. The foliage can be brilliant and frequently variegated with red, yellow and green stripes along the edges of mostly green sword shaped leaves. They are winter hardy in Zones 10-11 but can be grown indoors everywhere else.

Dracaenas will grow very well indoors if given plenty of light, rich garden soil, heat and moisture. My Dracaenas are growing directly under plant lights during the winter. They get watered about once a week. The only pests I have ever encountered with them are the red spider mites which can be controlled with a commercial pesticide available at nurseries and garden centers. I have heard that another pest called mealybug can also be a problem for Dracaenas.

In mid May I set these plants outdoors in filtered light - about 75% sun and 25% shade. They would probably do very well in full sun, but this happens to be the light conditions in my backyard. I feed them about once a month during the summer and water them when outdoors about 3 or 4 times a week. Good drainage is essential with frequent watering or root rot will be a problem.

Propagation is easiest from seed.

Native to the Canary Islands, they can attain heights of over 60 ft. In containers they are not likely to attain a height of over 10 to 12 ft. for many decades. The specimen at left was photographed at the Boyero Hotel in Liberia, Costa Rica in June, 1999. The specimen at right was photographed on my patio in Louisville, Kentucky on November 1, 1998.

© 1998 Michael King