Dracaena surculosa var. surculosa ‘Florida Beauty’

Dracaena surculosa var. surculosa ‘Florida Beauty’: African origin, older name and garden award

Dracaena surculosa var. surculosa grows naturally across tropical West and West-Central Africa as a leafy, many-stemmed shrub in warm, humid habitats.

The cultivar is also widely known as Dracaena godseffiana ‘Florida Beauty’. The older botanical name Dracaena godseffiana now refers to the same variety. In 2002, ‘Florida Beauty’ received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.

Indoor care for Dracaena surculosa var. surculosa ‘Florida Beauty’

• Light: bright indirect light helps ‘Florida Beauty’ stay bushy and keeps the cream-white markings clear. Filter hot direct sun at the window.
• Humidity: keep humidity moderate to high around the broad leaves and new shoots.
• Watering: while the shrub is growing, keep the mix evenly moist and water as the surface begins to dry. Let the excess water drain away.
• Slower growth: when new leaf growth slows, wait until the top layer feels dry before watering while the lower mix stays lightly moist.
• Potting mix: use a loose, airy mix that holds some moisture and drains freely.
• Temperature: keep ‘Florida Beauty’ between 18 and 24°C, with temperatures staying above 15°C.
• Feeding: feed lightly with a balanced liquid fertiliser as new leaves and stems grow.
• Repotting: once roots fill the pot, move to a container only slightly larger than the current one.
• Pruning and propagation: shorten an overlong shoot just above where a leaf grows from the stem. Healthy stem cuttings can be started in a warm place.

Dracaena surculosa var. surculosa ‘Florida Beauty’: common problems and solutions

• New leaves with weaker cream markings: brighter filtered light may help future leaves show the pattern more clearly. Move the plant closer to a bright window in stages and watch the next new leaves.
• Brown, dry patches on the pale areas: hot direct sun can scorch the cream-white parts of the leaf. Move ‘Florida Beauty’ to bright indirect light and filter intense midday rays.
• Yellowing or leaf drop with wet mix: the roots can suffer when the mix stays wet for long periods. Let it dry further and make sure water drains freely. Dark or soft roots can mean root rot. Carefully remove the plant from the container. With disinfected shears, cut off the damaged roots and stop when the roots still attached are firm and healthy. Throw away the rotten pieces and replant in fresh mix.
• Fine pale speckling, webbing or firm brown scales that remain attached: inspect the leaves and stems for spider mites or scale. Isolate the plant and remove visible pests. For scale or spider mites, use a product that is suitable for houseplants and names the pest on the label. Use only as much as the label directs. If another treatment is needed, wait until the label says it can be repeated.
• Growth slows or stops with cottony deposits around the roots: root mealybugs may be present. Isolate the plant, inspect the roots and remove old mix containing lots of mealybugs. For root mealybugs, choose a treatment whose label specifically covers them and allows use on houseplants. Follow the label for the amount to use and the waiting period before another treatment.

If the cause remains unclear, send a set of clear photos to Foliage Factory: the whole plant, damaged leaves or roots, and the potting mix.

Dracaena surculosa var. surculosa ‘Florida Beauty’ 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 the name Dracaena surculosa came about

Dracaena comes from Greek drakaina, meaning a female dragon. Surculosa refers to the production of shoots or suckers.

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

John Lindley first described Dracaena surculosa in 1828 in Botanical Register, volume 14, plate 1169.