Dracaena aubrytiana ‘Lauren’

Dracaena aubrytiana ‘Lauren’ origin and history

Dracaena aubrytiana is native to parts of tropical Africa, from Equatorial Guinea and Gabon east to Tanzania and south into southern tropical Africa. ‘Lauren’ itself was found in 2015 in Monterrey, San Carlos, Costa Rica, as a natural mutation in a planting of ‘Jaboa’. Marvin Gonzalez Villegas selected the plant, and it was later patented as Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Lauren’. The species was formerly Sansevieria aubrytiana. Its Dracaena name dates to 2018, after genetic research showed that Sansevieria is part of Dracaena.

Dracaena aubrytiana ‘Lauren’ care guide

• Light: Bright filtered light supports upright growth and clear variegation.
• Temperature and humidity: Aim for about 18–30 °C. Normal household humidity is suitable.
• Water: ‘Lauren’ copes well with short dry periods. Let the potting mix dry well between waterings, then water thoroughly and allow the pot to drain.
• Potting mix: Use an airy cactus or succulent blend in a container that drains freely.
• Propagation: Divide rooted offsets or rhizome sections. Propagated plants have kept the same upright form and variegation.
• Feeding: While new leaves are forming, use a diluted houseplant or cactus feed about once a month.
• Repotting: Repot when the roots are crowded and rhizomes reach the edge of the pot. Choose the next size up.
• Safety: Choose a spot out of reach of pets and children likely to chew the leaves. Eating the plant can be harmful, and sap may irritate the skin.

Dracaena aubrytiana ‘Lauren’ common problems

• The base becomes soft or yellow: Too much moisture may be damaging the roots or rhizomes. Use a clean, disinfected tool to cut away every soft area. Stop once the remaining tissue is firm and healthy, discard the rot and repot the healthy sections in fresh, free-draining mix.
• Dry pale patches appear: A sudden increase in strong sun can burn the variegated leaves. Move it out of harsh midday sun, then reintroduce stronger direct light in smaller steps.
• New growth becomes weak or stretched: Weak, stretched growth usually means the light is too low. Move the plant closer to bright filtered light.
• Leaves wrinkle or lose fullness: Loss of fullness can be a sign that the plant needs water. Check whether the mix has dried through; water thoroughly when dry and let the excess drain.
• White cottony insects gather around the leaves or fine webbing develops: Inspect for mealybugs or spider mites. Separate the plant, remove visible pests and choose a houseplant treatment whose label covers the pest. Repeat as directed.

If the problem remains unclear, send us clear photos including an overall view, close-ups of the affected leaves and the potting mix.

Dracaena aubrytiana ‘Lauren’ 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.

How did the name change from Sansevieria aubrytiana to Dracaena aubrytiana?

Dracaena comes from Greek drakaina, meaning a female dragon. Aubrytiana honours the French colonial administrator and amateur naturalist Charles Eugène Aubry-Lecomte, who sent the plant from Gabon.

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

Élie Abel Carrière first described it as Sansevieria aubrytiana in 1861 in Revue Horticole (Paris), volume 10, page 449. James W. Byng and Maarten J. M. Christenhusz later placed it in Dracaena as Dracaena aubrytiana in 2018 in Global Flora, volume 4, page 64.

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 aubrytiana as a synonym of Dracaena aubrytiana.