Dracaena pethera ‘Coppertone’

Dracaena pethera ‘Coppertone’ selection and background

Huntington Botanical Gardens introduced ‘Coppertone’ internationally in 2012 under the name Sansevieria kirkii var. pulchra ‘Coppertone’. It was selected for the copper blush its leaves develop in good light. Today it is known as Dracaena pethera ‘Coppertone’, from a species native across parts of central, eastern and southern tropical Africa. Since 2018, the species has been known as Dracaena pethera, after genetic work showed that the former Sansevieria group belongs within Dracaena.

How to care for Dracaena pethera ‘Coppertone’

• Light: Give ‘Coppertone’ a very bright position to develop its strongest copper tones. Bright filtered light works well, and it can also take direct sun if you increase the exposure gradually.
• Potting mix and pot: Use a shallow pot with drainage holes and a coarse, fast-draining succulent mix.
• Water: Allow the potting mix to dry well before watering again. Water thoroughly once dry and let the excess drain away.
• Feeding: While it is actively growing, use a small amount of liquid fertiliser roughly once a month.
• Temperature and humidity: Indoor warmth around 15–24 °C suits the plant. Low to normal room humidity is suitable, with airflow around the rosette.
• Propagation: Divide established offsets and rhizomes to continue the same ‘Coppertone’ form.
• Repotting: Repot when rhizomes and roots fill the container. Keep the new pot shallow and only a little larger.
• Safety: Keep the plant where small children and pets cannot nibble it. Swallowing the leaves can be harmful, and sap may irritate skin.

Dracaena pethera ‘Coppertone’ care issues

• The copper colour becomes faint: Fading colour usually means the light is not strong enough to bring out the copper blush. Move the plant to a brighter position over several days so new growth receives stronger light.
• The rosette base becomes soft or yellow: The roots may be staying wet for too long. Use a disinfected tool to remove soft tissue until the remaining growth is firm. Discard every rotten piece, then repot in a shallow, fast-draining mix.
• Pale dry patches appear: A quick move into strong direct sun can burn the leaves. Reduce midday sun and reintroduce stronger light over several days.
• Leaves become deeply wrinkled: Deep wrinkles often appear after the plant has been dry for too long. Check the potting mix and the weight of the container; if both indicate dryness, water thoroughly and let the excess drain.
• Webbing spreads across the rosette or cottony white insects appear: Spider mites or mealybugs may be present. Move the plant away from nearby houseplants, remove visible pests and use a treatment labelled for the pest you identify. Follow the label for how often to repeat treatment.

If the symptoms do not match these examples, send us clear photos with a whole-plant view, the affected area and the potting mix.

Dracaena pethera ‘Coppertone’ 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 kirkii and Dracaena pethera: why did the name change?

Dracaena comes from Greek drakaina, meaning a female dragon. Pethera comes from Greek pethera, meaning mother-in-law.

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

James W. Byng and Maarten J. M. Christenhusz first described Dracaena pethera in 2018 in Global Flora, volume 4, page 66.

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 kirkii as a synonym of Dracaena pethera.