Dracaena masoniana ‘Dragon’

Dracaena masoniana ‘Dragon’ naming background

The plant trade uses more than one species name for ‘Dragon’, so nursery labels can differ. You may see Dracaena masoniana ‘Dragon’, Dracaena aubrytiana ‘Dragon’ or the older name Sansevieria aubrytiana ‘Dragon’. Both possible species names have appeared under Dracaena since 2018, following genetic research that showed the former Sansevieria group belongs there.

Dracaena masoniana ‘Dragon’ care

• Light: Give it bright indirect light.
• Potting mix: Use a loose, fast-draining cactus or succulent mix in a pot with drainage holes.
• Water: Let the potting mix dry completely before the next watering. A light-feeling pot is a good cue; water evenly, then let all excess drain.
• Temperature and humidity: Keep it in warm indoor conditions above about 15 °C. Normal room humidity is suitable, with gentle airflow around the leaves.
• Repotting: Repot when roots fill most of the pot or new shoots crowd the rim. Move up one pot size.
• Feeding: Give a light liquid feed about once a month during active growth.
• Propagation: Separate rooted shoots with a piece of rhizome attached to maintain the ‘Dragon’ form.
• Safety: Keep it away from pets and children that may bite the leaves. The plant can be harmful if eaten, and its sap may irritate skin.

Dracaena masoniana ‘Dragon’ problems and solutions

• The base turns soft or yellow: Constantly wet mix can lead to root or rhizome rot. Cut away each soft section with a disinfected tool until the remaining tissue is firm and healthy. Throw away all rotten pieces, then repot the healthy growth in fresh succulent mix.
• Leaves become unusually long or weak: Long or weak growth can develop when the plant is kept too dim. Move it to brighter indirect light and increase the light in stages.
• Fine pale speckles with webbing or white waxy clusters develop: Check the leaves closely for spider mites or mealybugs. Move this plant away from nearby houseplants and choose a treatment labelled for whichever pest you find. Repeat according to the label.
• Leaves wrinkle or pucker: A dry potting mix may be causing the wrinkles. Check the mix; if it is dry, water thoroughly and let the pot drain.
• Bleached or dry brown areas appear: Sudden strong midday sun can burn the leaves. Reduce the strongest direct sun, then increase it more slowly.

If the cause is hard to identify, send us clear photos: an overall plant view, a close-up of the damage and the potting mix.

Dracaena masoniana ‘Dragon’ 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 masoniana and Dracaena masoniana: why did the name change?

Dracaena comes from Greek drakaina, meaning a female dragon. Masoniana honours British succulent grower and collector Maurice Mason.

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

B. Juan Chahinian first described it as Sansevieria masoniana in 2000 in Cactus and Succulent Journal (Los Angeles), volume 72, page 31. James W. Byng and Maarten J. M. Christenhusz later placed it in Dracaena as Dracaena masoniana 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 masoniana as a synonym of Dracaena masoniana.