Dracaena rockii
An endemic Hawaiian tree up to 5 m tall with 40 cm leaves, restricted to remnants of lowland dry to mesic forest on Maui and Molokai, threatened by habitat loss, limited regeneration, and pressures from feral pigs, goats, deer, rats, invasive plants, grazing, and fire, with fewer than 5,000–10,000 individuals remaining, taxonomically placed in the genus Dracaena within the Asparagaceae and treated as a synonym of another Dracaena species per Kew's taxonomy, with synonyms formerly listed under Pleomele and Sansevieria.
Common Names
Rock's Dragon Tree
Summary
Rock's Dragon Tree is a Hawaiian endemic tree from Maui and Molokaʻi, occupying remnants of lowland dry forest and, in some areas, open mesic or moist forest in gulches or on old lava flows, at elevations of 500–1,200 m. It grows up to 5 m tall, with leaves up to 40 cm long, bright green above and pale green below, tapering to a subulate tip, and it bears numerous fruit.
Conservation-minded cultivation is challenged by limited seed dispersal, with reproduction producing fruits that mostly fall under the parent canopy and potential seed predation by introduced rodents; regeneration is very poor and most individuals are mature, while threats such as habitat loss, feral pigs, goats, deer, rats, invasive plants, grazing, and fire underscore the need for habitat protection and careful management.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
16 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 10-11
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun.
Soil Type
Very well-drained soils; airy mix of non-organic materials (clay, pumice, lava grit) with peat or leaf-mould.
Soil Drainage
Very well drained soils; airy growing medium (non-organic like clay, pumice, lava grit) with peat/leaf-mould.
Bloom Color
Greenish yellow
Bloom Time
Summer
Foliage Color
Upper surface bright green; lower surface pale green; overall foliage medium to dark green.
Fall Foliage Color
Medium to dark green
Seasons of Interest
Summer and Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (H.St.John) Jankalski
- Publication
- Sansevieria 18: 21 (2008)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Asparagales
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Genus
- Dracaena
Synonyms
Pleomele hawaiiensis var. mauiensis Pleomele auwahiensis Pleomele rockii Chrysodracon auwahiensis Dracaena auwahiensis