Dracaena angolensis ‘Inti’

Dracaena angolensis ‘Inti’ background and former Sansevieria name

Dracaena angolensis ‘Inti’ is a compact dwarf form of a species native to Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In the wild, Dracaena angolensis grows through long dry seasons, storing water in its thick leaves and underground rhizomes.

Older labels may read Sansevieria cylindrica ‘Inti’. The species name Dracaena angolensis was published in 2018. DNA research showed that Sansevieria belongs within Dracaena, so the plant is now classified under Dracaena.

Growing Dracaena angolensis ‘Inti’ as a houseplant

• Light: Place ‘Inti’ in bright indirect light. Acclimate it slowly before giving it direct sun.
• Watering: Wait until the potting mix has dried through, then water thoroughly and let the pot drain. Allow extra drying time when growth slows.
• Potting mix: Choose an airy cactus or succulent mix that drains freely.
• Humidity: Ordinary room humidity suits ‘Inti’, including fairly dry homes. After watering, let any water around the close-set leaf bases drain away.
• Temperature: ‘Inti’ is comfortable at roughly 15–24 °C.
• Feeding: Feed lightly about once a month while fresh growth is appearing, then space feeds further apart as growth slows.
• Structure: The compact leaves are naturally self-supporting. A stable pot keeps the growing clump steady.
• Repotting: Move ‘Inti’ into a slightly larger pot once the roots and underground stems have filled the current container.
• Propagation: Use rooted offsets or divide the rhizome to make new plants while keeping the ‘Inti’ form.

Dracaena angolensis ‘Inti’ health problems and practical fixes

• The centre or base becomes soft: Rot may be developing below the surface. Unpot the plant and cut away every soft or rotten part with a clean, disinfected tool until you reach firm, healthy tissue. Throw away the rotten pieces and repot the healthy sections in fresh free-draining mix.
• The leaves lose their firm feel: Feel the mix and check the roots before adding water. If the pot is dry and the roots are firm, water thoroughly. Soft roots need attention first.
• Brown or soft, wet-looking patches keep growing: Leaf spot or rot may be affecting the leaves. Keep ‘Inti’ away from nearby plants, keep the foliage dry and remove badly affected parts with a clean, disinfected tool. Throw the removed parts away.
• Cottony insects or hard bumps appear between the leaves: Mealybugs and scale can hide among the close-set foliage. Remove what you can see, isolate the plant and use a houseplant treatment that lists the pest on the label. Follow the label for repeat treatments.
• Fine pale marks and webbing appear: Check between the leaves for spider mites and look over nearby plants too. Isolate ‘Inti’ and use a houseplant treatment that lists spider mites on the label. Follow the label for how often to repeat the treatment.

Dracaena angolensis ‘Inti’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• It contains saponins that can irritate the mouth and digestive tract.
• Chewing may cause drooling, vomiting, stomach pain, reduced appetite or weakness. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop.

Sansevieria cylindrica and Dracaena angolensis: why did the name change?

Dracaena comes from Greek drakaina, meaning a female dragon. Angolensis means ‘from Angola’.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Dracaena in 1767 in Mantissa Plantarum, page 9; Domenico Vandelli had proposed the name.

Élie Abel Carrière first described it as Sansevieria angolensis in 1861 in Revue Horticole (Paris), volume 10, page 447; Friedrich Welwitsch had proposed that name. James W. Byng and Maarten J. M. Christenhusz later placed it in Dracaena as Dracaena angolensis in 2018 in Global Flora, volume 4, page 64.

Sansevieria remains common in horticulture. Pei-Luen Lu and Clifford Morden showed that it belongs within Dracaena in a 2014 DNA study in Systematic Botany, volume 39. Kew’s World Checklist treats Sansevieria cylindrica as a synonym of Dracaena angolensis.