Dracaena angolensis ‘Twister’

Origin of Dracaena angolensis ‘Twister’

The braid on Dracaena angolensis ‘Twister’ is created by training established leaves during cultivation. Dracaena angolensis comes from Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe, where its thick leaves and underground rhizomes help it through long dry periods.

This species was widely sold as Sansevieria cylindrica, so that older name may still be familiar.

Caring for Dracaena angolensis ‘Twister’ and its braid

• Light: Bright indirect light suits ‘Twister’. Build up direct-sun exposure slowly.
• Braided leaves: Handle the braid gently and allow fresh shoots to develop freely around it.
• Watering: Let the mix dry through before watering. Water thoroughly and drain the pot completely. Lower light means the mix will take longer to dry.
• Humidity: Ordinary household humidity suits ‘Twister’. After watering, allow any water between the braided leaves to drain and dry.
• Potting mix: Use a loose succulent or cactus mix that drains quickly and leaves plenty of air around the roots.
• Temperature: Aim for roughly 15–24 °C indoors.
• Feeding: Give a light liquid feed about once a month while fresh growth is appearing, and feed less often as growth slows.
• Repotting: Move up one pot size when the roots and underground stems fill the container. Choose a stable pot that balances the braided foliage.
• Propagation: Rooted shoots can be separated, or the clump can be divided at the rhizome. New growth starts in the species’ natural fan shape; braiding is done later.

Dracaena angolensis ‘Twister’ braid health and common problems

• The base of the braid becomes soft: Check the roots and base for rot. With a clean, disinfected tool, remove 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.
• Cottony insects or hard bumps hide between the leaves: Check carefully inside the braid 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.
• The braided leaves wrinkle or lose firmness: Check whether the mix is dry and the roots are healthy. If both are firm and dry, water thoroughly. Soft roots need attention before more water is added.
• Brown or soft, wet-looking patches spread along a leaf: Leaf spot or rot may be developing. Keep the braid dry, isolate the plant and cut away badly affected parts with a clean, disinfected tool. Throw the damaged pieces away.
• Fine pale marks or webbing appear: Check both sides of the braided leaves for spider mites and inspect nearby plants as well. Isolate ‘Twister’ and use a houseplant treatment that lists spider mites on the label. Follow the label for how often to repeat the treatment.

Dracaena angolensis ‘Twister’ 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.