Dracaena fragrans ‘Lemon Surprise’

The Dutch origin of Dracaena fragrans ‘Lemon Surprise’

‘Lemon Surprise’ began in Honselersdijk, the Netherlands, in April 1996, when Ruud A. M. Scheffers found differently patterned growth on ‘Surprise’.

Dividing the upper growth produced new plants with the same grey-green, white and yellow-green pattern and gently curled leaves.

Looking after Dracaena fragrans ‘Lemon Surprise’

• Light: Bright indirect light supports the striped crown. Filter strong direct sun around the pale and yellow-green sections.
• Water: Wait for the surface to dry and for the pot to feel noticeably lighter. Then water evenly through the roots and let the excess drain.
• Potting mix: Use a light peat-free blend that drains quickly while keeping a little moisture around the roots.
• Temperature: Keep ‘Lemon Surprise’ around 18–27°C.
• Humidity: Ordinary indoor humidity suits ‘Lemon Surprise’. Keep the compact crown away from hot, dry heater air.
• Water quality and feeding: The pale leaf sections benefit from rainwater or filtered water. Give a modest balanced feed while fresh leaves are appearing.
• Repotting and making new plants: Move to the next pot size when roots become crowded. For another plant, divide off a healthy upper section that includes the centre of fresh leaf growth.

Dracaena fragrans ‘Lemon Surprise’: troubleshooting guide

• Brown marks develop on pale or yellow-green sections: Fluoride, hard tap water, heavy feeding and very dry air can leave marks on the pale tissue. Rainwater or filtered water and a thorough rinse of the potting mix can help.
• Several leaves turn yellow while the mix stays wet: Pause watering and take a close look at the roots. Soft, rotten sections need to be removed with disinfected scissors or pruners. Continue until the roots left in the pot are firm and healthy. Bin the removed rot and repot in fresh, loose potting mix.
• Fresh leaves become unusually narrow: Feel the roots and check whether the mix has packed down around them. If it has, replace it with a fresher, airier mix.
• Dry rust-coloured areas appear on exposed leaves: Pull the pot back from hot glass and give the crown bright light filtered from direct sun.
• Webbing, distorted growth or cottony material inside the leafy head: Check the close-set leaves for spider mites, scale and mealybugs. Move ‘Lemon Surprise’ away from the rest of your plants. Use a treatment labelled for the pest, then follow the label for the next treatment date.

Dracaena fragrans ‘Lemon Surprise’ 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.

About the name Dracaena fragrans and the history of ‘Lemon Surprise’

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

Ruud A. M. Scheffers selected ‘Lemon Surprise’ in Honselersdijk, the Netherlands, in April 1996 as a natural sport of ‘Surprise’. It received United States plant patent PP12654 in 2002.

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.