Dracaena steudneri ‘Cintho’

Origin and habitat of Dracaena steudneri ‘Cintho’

‘Cintho’ belongs to Dracaena steudneri, a species native from Ethiopia through southern tropical Africa.

In the wild, the species grows in tropical regions that often have a clear dry season.

Dracaena steudneri ‘Cintho’: indoor care

• Light: Give ‘Cintho’ bright filtered light and soften strong hot sun near the window.
• Water: Check the upper potting mix before watering. When it has dried, water moderately and let the pot drain. Rainwater is a useful choice.
• Potting mix: Choose a peat-free mix that remains loose around the roots, keeps moisture steady and drains well.
• Temperature: Keep ‘Cintho’ between about 18 and 27°C.
• Humidity: Normal household humidity is fine for ‘Cintho’. Give the dense leafy head a little space so the leaves dry easily after watering.
• Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertiliser roughly once a month while the plant is growing strongly, then ease off when growth slows.
• Repotting and stem cuttings: Repot when roots fill the container. A healthy stem cutting can be rooted in a warm spot if you want another plant.

Dracaena steudneri ‘Cintho’: problems and fixes

• Brown tips: Hard or mineral-rich water, built-up fertiliser, dry indoor air and irregular watering can all contribute. Rainwater or filtered water may reduce new tip damage.
• Yellowing with persistently wet potting mix: Let the pot dry further, then check the roots. Where they are soft or rotten, clean and disinfect scissors or pruners before trimming those parts off. The roots left behind should be firm and healthy. Discard the rot and repot ‘Cintho’ in fresh mix with good drainage.
• Pale or rust-coloured scorch marks: Shift ‘Cintho’ out of the strongest direct rays and keep it in bright, filtered light.
• Water-soaked or spreading leaf spots: Remove spotted leaves promptly, keep water off the crown and leave some space around the foliage so it dries easily.
• Scale, webbing, silver feeding marks or cottony clusters: Check ‘Cintho’ for scale insects, spider mites, thrips and mealybugs. Keep it apart from other plants while treating. Pick a product labelled for the pest you identify and use the label to decide when another treatment is due.

Dracaena fragrans ‘Cintho’ 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 it called Dracaena fragrans?

Dracaena comes from Greek drakaina, meaning a female dragon. Fragrans is Latin for fragrant and refers to the flowers.

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 Aletris fragrans in 1762 in Species Plantarum, second edition, page 456. John Bellenden Ker Gawler later placed it in Dracaena as Dracaena fragrans in 1808 in Botanical Magazine, volume 27, plate 1081.