Dracaena angolensis ‘Straight’

Name and natural range of Dracaena angolensis ‘Straight’

Dracaena angolensis ‘Straight’ is an upright form of a species native to Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In its natural range, Dracaena angolensis grows through long dry periods and stores water in its fleshy leaves and underground rhizomes.

The older name Sansevieria cylindrica ‘Straight’ still appears on some labels.

Dracaena angolensis ‘Straight’ indoor growing conditions and care

• Light: Bright indirect light suits ‘Straight’. Turn the pot occasionally so new growth receives light from different directions, and acclimate it slowly before stronger direct sun.
• Watering: Wait until the mix is dry through the pot, then water thoroughly and let all excess water drain. Longer drying times suit periods of slower growth.
• Potting mix: Choose a coarse, free-draining cactus or succulent mix and a pot with drainage holes.
• Humidity: Average room humidity suits ‘Straight’. Let the leaf bases dry after watering.
• Temperature: Keep ‘Straight’ at about 15–24 °C.
• Structure: The tall leaves hold themselves upright. Choose a pot with enough weight to keep the narrow clump steady.
• Feeding: Use liquid houseplant or cactus fertiliser about once a month while the plant is growing, then feed less often as growth slows.
• Repotting: Repot when the roots and underground stems fill the container. Choose a slightly larger pot that is stable enough for the tall foliage.
• Propagation: Rooted shoots can be removed and potted separately. A larger clump can also be divided through the rhizome.

Dracaena angolensis ‘Straight’ health checks and solutions

• The upright clump shifts or wobbles in the pot: Check the roots and base for rot. With a clean, disinfected tool, cut away every soft or rotten part until only firm, healthy tissue remains. Throw away the rotten pieces and repot the healthy plant in fresh free-draining mix.
• The spears become wrinkled or noticeably softer: Check both the roots and the moisture in the pot. If the roots are firm and the mix is dry, water thoroughly. Soft or damaged roots need attention first.
• Cottony insects, sticky patches or hard bumps appear between the leaves: Inspect the narrow gaps for mealybugs or scale. Remove visible pests, isolate the plant and use a houseplant treatment that lists the pest on the label. Follow the label for how often to repeat it.
• Fine pale speckles and webbing appear: Check along the full length of the leaves for spider mites and inspect nearby plants too. Isolate ‘Straight’ and use a houseplant treatment that lists spider mites on the label. Follow the label for how often to repeat the treatment.
• The plant suddenly weakens or becomes loose despite suitable watering: Check the roots and potting mix for vine-weevil grubs. Remove badly damaged roots and use a vine-weevil treatment labelled for container or houseplant use, following the product directions.

Dracaena angolensis (Sansevieria cylindrica) ‘Straight’ 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.

Why is Sansevieria cylindrica now called Dracaena angolensis?

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.