Dracaena fragrans ‘Dorado’

The 2002 beginning of Dracaena fragrans ‘Dorado’

‘Dorado’ began in Honselersdijk, the Netherlands, in 2002, when Ruud Scheffers found a naturally different shoot growing on ‘Lemon Surprise’.

Dracaena fragrans ‘Dorado’: indoor care guide

• Light: Give the striped crown bright indirect light and filter strong midday sun at the window.
• Water: When the surface feels dry and the pot has become lighter, water the mix well and allow the excess to drain.
• Potting mix: Choose a peat-free houseplant mix that stays loose, keeps some moisture and drains freely.
• Temperature: Keep ‘Dorado’ around 18–27°C and protect it from cold draughts.
• Humidity: Ordinary household humidity suits ‘Dorado’. Keep the leaves clear of direct heater air.
• Feeding and water quality: Keep fertiliser doses modest while fresh leaves are developing. Rainwater or filtered water works well for ‘Dorado’.
• Repotting: Choose a slightly larger, stable container once the roots become crowded or the broad crown begins to unbalance the pot.

Solving problems with Dracaena fragrans ‘Dorado’

• Brown damage follows the yellow-green edge: Hard water, fertiliser buildup and dry air can mark the yellow-green edges. Try rainwater or filtered water and keep feeding modest.
• Yellow leaves with a slow-drying pot: Extend the gap between waterings and examine the roots. Rotten roots should be cut away with scissors or pruners that have been cleaned with disinfectant. Finish at firm, healthy roots, dispose of the damaged pieces and repot ‘Dorado’ in fresh potting mix that drains freely.
• Leaves become damaged after a cold spell: Move the plant into steady room warmth and keep it away from cold glass, open doors and cold draughts.
• Dark or water-soaked leaf spots: Cut off damaged leaves and water directly into the pot. Keep the crown uncrowded so the foliage dries easily.
• Fine pale speckles, webbing, cottony patches or raised brown insects: Inspect the broad leaves and stem joints for spider mites, mealybugs and scale. Isolate an affected ‘Dorado’ and choose a treatment that lists the pest on its label. Follow the label, including the wait before treating again.

Dracaena fragrans ‘Dorado’ 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.

The meaning and history of 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.