Dracaena reflexa ‘Song of India’

Dracaena reflexa ‘Song of India’: origin and early history

‘Song of India’ belongs to Dracaena reflexa, which grows naturally from north-eastern Mozambique through Madagascar and other western Indian Ocean islands. Wild plants develop into woody tropical shrubs and small trees.

‘Song of India’ was already being grown in the Netherlands by 1993. That year, a natural mutation appeared among a group of plants and was later named ‘Riki’.

Dracaena reflexa ‘Song of India’: indoor growing and care

• Light: bright indirect light keeps the growth compact and the pale leaf edges clear. Keep the leaves away from strong direct sun through the window.
• Watering: let the top of the mix begin to dry, then water evenly and allow the pot to drain.
• Humidity: moderate humidity helps keep the leaves and pale edges in good condition.
• Temperature: keep ‘Song of India’ in a warm room around 18–24°C, with a minimum of 15°C.
• Potting mix: choose a loose houseplant mix that drains freely and keeps some moisture around the roots.
• Water quality: if your tap water leaves mineral deposits or contains fluoride, choose rainwater or filtered water that is low in minerals.
• Feeding: feed lightly whenever the plant is growing new leaves.
• Slower growth: if new leaves appear more slowly, let the upper mix dry a little further and feed less often.
• Repotting: refresh the mix and move to the next pot size once roots fill the pot or the old mix becomes dense.
• Pruning and propagation: shorten an overlong stem just above a point where leaves emerge to keep the shrub balanced. Keep healthy stem cuttings warm while they root.

Dracaena reflexa ‘Song of India’: common problems and what to do

• Brown tips or damaged pale edges: check water quality, fertiliser use and the watering pattern. Hard or fluoridated water, excess fertiliser and sharp swings between wet and dry can all mark the edges. Try rainwater or distilled water, reduce fertiliser if needed and aim for a more even watering routine.
• Tan, papery patches: intense window sun can burn the pale-edged leaves. Move the plant away from hot glass while keeping it in bright indirect light.
• Yellowing while the pot stays wet: prolonged moisture may be stressing the roots. Delay the next watering and make sure the drainage holes are open. Soft, dark roots are a sign of root rot. Remove them with disinfected shears until all remaining roots feel healthy and firm. Discard what you cut away and replant in fresh, freely draining mix.
• Fine pale speckling, sticky brown bumps, silvery patches or white cottony deposits: inspect for spider mites, scale, thrips and mealybugs. Keep the plant apart from nearby houseplants. Choose a houseplant treatment that lists the pest you found. Check the product label for the correct amount. Before treating again, wait for the recommended interval.

For symptoms outside these examples, send clear photos of the full plant, damaged leaves and potting mix to Foliage Factory.

Dracaena reflexa ‘Song Of India’ 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.

Who first published Dracaena reflexa, and what does the name mean?

Dracaena comes from Greek drakaina, meaning a female dragon. The epithet reflexa is Latin for bent or turned backwards, referring to the recurved leaves.

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

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck first described Dracaena reflexa in 1786 in Encyclopédie, volume 2, page 324.