Dracaena trifasciata ‘Silver Flame’

Dracaena trifasciata ‘Silver Flame’ origin and botanical name history

The name ‘Silver Flame’ has been used with both Sansevieria trifasciata and Sansevieria zeylanica. In 2017, both species were moved from Sansevieria to Dracaena after DNA studies showed that Sansevieria belongs within Dracaena.

Today, those species are called Dracaena trifasciata, which is native to tropical Africa, and Dracaena zeylanica, which is native to southern India and Sri Lanka. ‘Silver Flame’ has also been used for plants linked with ‘Whitney’, another named form of Dracaena trifasciata. This is why the name ‘Silver Flame’ is used in different ways on plant labels and in collections.

Dracaena trifasciata ‘Silver Flame’ indoor care guide

• Light: Give bright filtered light. Light shade also works for ‘Silver Flame’.
• Water: Water after the potting mix has dried through. Wet the whole mix evenly, then let all excess water drain away.
• Humidity: Normal room humidity is fine. Keep the leaves dry and allow air to move around the upright growth.
• Potting mix: Use a coarse succulent mix that drains freely, in a pot with drainage holes.
• Temperature: Keep ‘Silver Flame’ around 15–24°C and away from cold draughts.
• Propagation: Separate rooted side shoots if you want to keep the same variegated pattern.
• Feeding: Feed lightly about once a month while new leaves or shoots are forming.
• Cooler conditions: In cooler, darker conditions, growth slows and the mix stays damp longer, so extend the gap between waterings.
• Repotting: Move up a pot size when roots fill the container or fresh side growth crowds the edge.
• Handling: Wear gloves for cutting or division because sap may irritate skin. Keep the leaves out of reach of children and pets; eating them can cause stomach upset.

Common problems with Dracaena trifasciata ‘Silver Flame’

• Leaves soften at the base: A soft base after the potting mix stays wet for too long can be a sign of rot. Check the base and roots. Cut soft or brown areas back to firm, healthy tissue using a clean, disinfected blade. Discard the rotten pieces and repot the healthy section in fresh, free-draining mix.
• Wrinkled leaves: If the roots are firm and the potting mix is dry, the plant is likely thirsty. Water thoroughly and let the pot drain completely.
• Dry tan patches: Strong direct sun can scorch the leaves and leave dry tan patches. Move the plant away from direct sun and check the next leaves for improvement.
• Spreading brown leaf spots: New brown spots that keep spreading may come from a leaf-spot disease. Keep the leaves dry, improve air movement and remove badly damaged leaves with clean scissors. Check new leaves for further spotting.
• Mealybugs or spider mites: Check the leaf bases and both sides of the leaves, then isolate the plant. If treatment is needed, use a product labelled for mealybugs or spider mites and follow the label directions.

Dracaena trifasciata ‘Silver Flame’ 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.

Which name is used now: Sansevieria trifasciata or Dracaena trifasciata?

Dracaena comes from Greek drakaina, meaning a female dragon. The epithet trifasciata means three-banded.

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

David Prain first described it as Sansevieria trifasciata in 1903 in Bengal Plants, volume 2, page 1054. David Mabberley later placed it in Dracaena as Dracaena trifasciata in 2017 in Mabberley’s Plant-book, edition 4, page 1101.

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 trifasciata as a synonym of Dracaena trifasciata.