Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia ‘Red’ (formerly Dracaena marginata)

Western Indian Ocean islands

Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia, long sold as Dracaena marginata, is native to Aldabra, the Chagos Archipelago, the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Réunion and the Seychelles. It grows naturally in wet tropical regions.

Its island climate is warm and wet, with little exposure to cold. The plant is consequently accustomed to stable temperatures, generous ambient light and roots that dry only partway between rains.

Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia ‘Red’: light and watering for slender canes

• Light: Bright indirect light gives the best growth.
• Watering: Let the surface layer dry to a depth of 3–5 cm, then water thoroughly without leaving the pot standing in runoff.
• Substrate: Choose an airy houseplant mix with bark or coarse mineral material.
• Temperature: Choose a warm position without sudden cold from an open window or exterior door.
• Humidity: Average indoor humidity is usually sufficient, but persistently dry air can brown the leaf tips.
• Feeding: Support new growth with a weak balanced feed every 4–6 weeks rather than a full-strength dose.
• Repotting: Move up one pot size when roots crowd the container or the canes are no longer stable.
• Propagation: Take a leafy top cutting or a section of cane and root it with steady warmth. Cuttings reproduce the parent cultivar.
• Winter: As growth slows, let more of the mix dry between waterings rather than stopping water completely.

Common problems with Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia ‘Red’

• Brown tips on several leaves: When brown tips appear on several leaves, first check the root ball and the pot rim. A repeatedly dry root ball points to irregular watering; a white crust on the substrate or pot points to salt build-up; damage concentrated beside a heater points to hot, dry airflow. Correct the matching cause, flushing the substrate only when salts are present.
• Leaves rolling or curling inwards: When leaves roll or curl inwards, check below the surface before watering. A dry root ball needs a thorough watering, while damp substrate with limp or yellowing leaves calls for a root check. If moisture is suitable, move the crown away from direct heater or air-conditioning flow.
• Long gaps and weak new leaves: A crown that produces longer gaps between leaves or progressively smaller growth is receiving too little usable light. Move it closer to a bright window in stages and assess the next leaves; stretched sections will not become compact again.
• Fine webbing or pale stippling: Inspect both leaf surfaces with a bright light, especially beside the midrib. Fine webbing and many tiny pale dots indicate spider mites. Isolate the plant, rinse the leaves and repeat a product labelled for mites as directed.

Dracaena is toxic to cats and dogs

Dracaena contains saponins. Eating the leaves can cause drooling, vomiting, loss of appetite and lethargy; cats may also have dilated pupils. Keep the plant out of reach, and contact a veterinarian if a pet eats it.

Why Dracaena marginata is now a synonym

Angustifolia means narrow-leaved and describes this variety of Dracaena reflexa. The familiar name Dracaena marginata is now treated as a synonym, which is why both names still appear on labels.

Botanically, the genus Dracaena dates to Linnaeus’s valid publication of Vandelli’s name in Mantissa Plantarum in 1767. John Gilbert Baker published Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia in the Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany in 1875. Lamarck had described the synonym Dracaena marginata in the Encyclopédie in 1786.