Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia

Common Names

Madagascar Dragon Tree, Dragon Tree, Song of India, Dragon Blood Tree, Malaysian Dracaena, Red Edge Dracaena, Red-Marginated Dracaena, Straight-Marginated Dracaena

Summary

Madagascar dragon tree is an evergreen shrub native to Madagascar and nearby Indian Ocean islands, distinguished by slender canes, a twisted trunk, and narrow lanceolate leaves edged in red or burgundy that appear in dense tufts or spiral at branch tips, giving an architectural tropical silhouette, drought-tolerant and slow-growing, prized as a striking ornamental plant commonly grown as a houseplant, stems may be braided or spiraled for added flair, culture emphasizes bright indirect light, warm temperatures, and well-draining soil, water when the top 2–3 cm of soil dries, avoid waterlogging, provide moderate humidity, tolerant of drought and low-fertilizer regimes, propagate by stem cuttings, commonly used as an indoor plant and noted to be toxic if ingested by humans or pets, prune canes to shape and when desired train into braided forms, hardy in zones 10–12

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-20 feet

Spread

3-10 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 10-12

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-draining, aerated soil, pH 6–7

Soil Drainage

Well-drained, aerated soil, amended with perlite, sand, or coco coir, and pots with drainage holes to prevent waterlogging

Soil pH

6.0-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring, Winter

Foliage Color

Green with creamy yellow margins

Fall Foliage Color

Green with red edges

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow-growing.

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Stem cuttings, rhizome division