Dracaena draco

Dracaena draco Canary Islands origin and history

Dracaena draco is native to Gran Canaria and Tenerife in the Canary Islands, where it grows as a subtropical tree.

The species produces a deep red resin traditionally known as dragon's blood, which inspired its common name.

How to grow Dracaena draco indoors

• Light: Give the dragon tree a very bright position. Once it has gradually adjusted to direct sun, it can take plenty of it. Give some protection from intense heat through window glass.
• Water: Water thoroughly once the upper layer of potting mix has begun to dry. When conditions are dimmer or cooler and the plant uses water more slowly, wait until the potting mix has dried well below the surface before watering again.
• Potting mix: Use a peat-free, loam-based potting mix that drains well.
• Temperature: Keep the plant in warm, frost-free conditions and protect it from prolonged cold.
• Maintenance: Remove fully dry lower leaves cleanly at the base. Regular pruning is rarely needed.
• Humidity: Moderate household humidity is suitable.
• Repotting: Move to a sturdy, slightly larger container when roots have filled the pot or the developing trunk and crown make the plant unstable.
• Propagation: New plants can be raised from seed at about 18–21°C. Stem cuttings can also be rooted in warm conditions.
• Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser about once a month while the plant is actively growing. Reduce feeding when growth slows.
• Pet safety: Keep the plant out of reach of pets, as it is harmful if eaten.

Common problems with Dracaena draco

• Pale, dry patches: Intense sun through hot glass can scorch leaves that developed in gentler light. Give the dragon tree some protection from the hottest exposure and increase direct sun gradually.
• Soft roots or a softening trunk base with persistently wet mix: Excess moisture can damage the root system. Lift the dragon tree from its pot and inspect the root system and trunk base. Use a clean tool that has been disinfected to remove all soft or dark tissue, stopping at firm, healthy growth. Dispose of the damaged pieces and repot in fresh mix with dependable drainage.
• Mottled or dusty-looking leaves with fine webbing: Spider mites may be active in the crown. Quarantine the plant and apply a product whose label specifically covers spider mites. Follow the directions for coverage and any stated repeat interval.
• Hard bumps or sticky residue on leaves and stems: Scale insects may be present. Separate the dragon tree from other plants, remove visible scale and apply a scale-labelled treatment exactly as directed, repeating it only when the product label calls for another application.
• Soft or discoloured foliage after cold exposure: Move the tree to a sheltered, frost-free position. Keep conditions steady and wait until the extent of the damage is clear before removing affected leaves.

If the problem is hard to identify, send us a photo of the full dragon tree and close-ups of the affected leaves, trunk or roots so we can help identify what is going wrong.

Dracaena draco 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.

Dracaena draco: where the name comes from

Dracaena comes from Greek drakaina, meaning a female dragon. Dracaena comes from Greek drakaina, ‘female dragon’, and draco is Latin for ‘dragon’.

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

Carl Linnaeus first described it as Asparagus draco in 1758 in Iter Hispan, page 303. Carl Linnaeus later placed it in Dracaena as Dracaena draco in 1767 in Systema Naturae, twelfth edition, volume 2, page 246.