I am a long-lived, evergreen perennial shrub or small tree characterized by one or more thick, woody, cane-like stems topped with a rosette of leaves. My growth habit is typically upright and architectural.

Foliage: My leaves vary significantly by species, but are generally long, leathery, and sword-shaped. They range in color from solid green (D. fragrans 'Massangeana'—Corn Plant) to edged with red (D. marginata—Dragon Tree), or striped with white/yellow.

Stems (Canes): My stems are thick and often show prominent leaf scars where old leaves have dropped, giving me a palm-like appearance.

Flowers: Mature plants (usually grown outdoors or in ideal greenhouse conditions) can produce clusters of small, fragrant, creamy-white flowers, occasionally followed by small berries. This is rare indoors.

My genus is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Madagascar, and Southern Asia, thriving in warm, humid climates as understory plants.

I am sensitive to overwatering and chemical buildup in water.

Routine: Water me thoroughly, then allow the top 1/2 to 1 inch of soil to dry out completely before watering again. My water needs decrease significantly in winter.

Caution: I am highly susceptible to root rot from overwatering. I am also very sensitive to Fluoride and mineral salts in tap water, which often causes the tips of my leaves to turn brown or yellow. Using distilled or filtered water is often recommended.

I am adaptable and tolerate lower light, but I prefer stable, bright conditions.

Preference: I thrive in medium to bright, indirect light. This promotes the best color and prevents my stems from stretching.

Tolerance: I can tolerate low light, but my growth will slow dramatically, and the variegation (stripes) will become less prominent. Direct, hot sunlight should be avoided, as it will scorch my leaves.

I am a tropical plant and require consistent, warm temperatures.

I enjoy stable, average room temperatures between 18°C and 27°C (65°F and 80°F).

Cold Sensitivity: I am not frost-hardy. I am extremely sensitive to cold drafts and temperatures below 13°C (55°F), which can cause leaf drop and permanent damage to my foliage. Keep me away from cold windows and air conditioning vents.

I am easily grown in containers indoors.

Soil: Use a well-draining, high-quality potting mix designed for indoor plants. The mix should be loose and allow excess water to drain quickly.

Repotting: I am slow-growing and only need repotting every 2-3 years, or when I become severely root-bound.

I am a light feeder and require minimal fertilization.

Routine: Feed me sparingly, typically only once a month during the spring and summer active growing season. Use a liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength.

Caution: Over-fertilization leads to the salt buildup that causes brown leaf tips, a common problem for this genus.

Scientific Name: Dracaena spp. (e.g., D. marginata, D. fragrans, D. deremensis)

Common Names: Dragon Tree, Corn Plant, Red-Edge Dracaena, Striped Dracaena

Plant Family: Asparagaceae (Asparagus family)

Plant Type: Evergreen Shrub/Small Tree, grown primarily as an indoor plant.

The Dracaena genus (Dracaena spp.) is considered TOXIC to both cats and dogs; all parts of the plant, especially the leaves, contain saponins which, if ingested, can cause significant gastrointestinal irritation, including vomiting (sometimes with blood), drooling, weakness, and, specifically in cats, dilated pupils.

I am a leading air-purifying plant, consistently ranked by NASA's Clean Air Study as highly effective. My large leaves efficiently filter out common household airborne toxins, including Formaldehyde, Benzene, Trichloroethylene (TCE), and Xylene, significantly improving indoor air quality.