Dracaena trifasciata ‘Gold Flame’

Dracaena trifasciata ‘Gold Flame’ African origin and other names

The wild species is found in southern Nigeria, parts of west-central Africa and Tanzania. Its natural tropical habitats have a dry season.

The shift from Sansevieria trifasciata to Dracaena trifasciata came in 2017, after DNA studies placed Sansevieria within Dracaena. ‘Gold Flame’ is also sold under the name ‘Golden Flame’.

Dracaena trifasciata ‘Gold Flame’ care for variegated leaves

• Light: Give bright filtered light. Protect the pale parts of the leaves from intense midday sun behind glass.
• Water: Water thoroughly only after the potting mix has dried through, then let all excess drain away.
• Humidity: Normal room humidity is fine. Avoid water sitting in the tight leaf bases.
• Potting mix: Use a chunky succulent mix and a pot with drainage holes so excess water can escape.
• Temperature: Keep ‘Gold Flame’ around 15–24°C and away from cold draughts.
• Feeding: Give a light balanced feed each month while new leaves or shoots are appearing.
• Cooler, darker conditions: Growth slows and the mix dries more slowly, so wait longer between waterings.
• Repotting: Repot when roots fill the pot or new rosettes begin to crowd the rim.
• Propagation: Use rooted side shoots to keep the gold pattern. Leaf cuttings can lose the yellow pattern and grow greener.
• Handling: Use gloves when dividing the plant because sap can irritate skin. Keep the leaves out of reach of children and pets; eating them can cause stomach upset.

Common issues with Dracaena trifasciata ‘Gold Flame’

• Leaf bases soften: Leaf bases can soften when the potting mix stays wet for too long. Check the base and roots for rot. With a clean, disinfected knife, remove all soft tissue until firm, healthy tissue remains. Discard the rotten material and repot the healthy plant in fresh, fast-draining mix.
• Dry brown patches on yellow tissue: Pale variegated areas can scorch in strong direct sun. Move the plant to filtered light and check new leaves for improvement.
• Wrinkled leaves: If the roots are firm and the potting mix is dry, wrinkling usually comes from lack of water. Water thoroughly and let the pot drain fully.
• Fresh growth becomes weak: Low light or root trouble can cause weak new growth. Move the plant gradually to a brighter filtered position and check the roots if the fan also feels loose in the pot.
• Fine webbing or cottony clusters: Check for spider mites or mealybugs around the leaf bases and surfaces. Isolate the plant. If treatment is needed, use a houseplant product labelled for mites or mealybugs and follow the label directions.

Dracaena trifasciata ‘Gold 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.

How did the name change from Sansevieria trifasciata to 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.