Dragon Tree
Dracaena marginata
📖 About this plant
One of the most popular and resilient indoor trees, the Dragon Tree features a slender, architectural trunk topped with a crown of narrow, sword-shaped leaves edged in vibrant red or pink. It naturally sheds lower leaves over time, developing a striking bare trunk with a tufted crown. Extremely forgiving of neglect and an excellent air purifier according to NASA studies.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Medium to bright indirect (4-6 hrs)
Every 2-3 weeks
Moderate (30-50%)
18-30°C
Well-draining potting mix with perlite, loam, and peat; slightly acidic pH 6.0-6.5
Balanced liquid fertilizer (10-10-10) diluted to half strength every 4-6 weeks during spring and summer
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Madagascar — tropical dry forests of the island's western and northern regions
- 📏 Max height
- 180-300 cm (6-10 ft indoors; up to 5-6 m outdoors in tropical climates)
- 📐 Spread
- 60-120 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Rarely indoors
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White, Pink
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green, Red Margined
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Slow
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Toxic to pets — leaves and stems contain saponins; ingestion causes vomiting (sometimes with blood), drooling, loss of appetite, and dilated pupils in dogs and cats. Mildly toxic to humans — sap can cause skin irritation and dermatitis.
- 🌱 Propagation
- Stem tip cuttings (8-10 cm) in water or moist perlite, air layering, or cane cuttings laid horizontally
🛡️ Health & Safety
Toxic to pets — leaves and stems contain saponins; ingestion causes vomiting (sometimes with blood), drooling, loss of appetite, and dilated pupils in dogs and cats. Mildly toxic to humans — sap can cause skin irritation and dermatitis.
Common issues
- Yellowing leaves from overwatering or fluoride in tap water, Brown leaf tips from dry air or fluoride sensitivity, Soft, mushy stem base from root rot, Drooping leaves from underwatering, Mealybugs and scale insects on foliage and stems
💡 Care tips
- Striking red-edged green leaves on multiple woody trunks,Slow-growing that can reach ceiling height indoors over many years,Tolerates low light but grows best with bright indirect light,Remove brown leaf tips with scissors for a clean appearance
