Brazil Saint Bárbara Sword Dracaena angolensis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Sansevieria cylindrica
- Phonetic Spelling
- dra-SEE-nah an-go-LEN-sis
- Description
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African Spear is tough, easy to grow succulent houseplant native to Africa. It has a dramatic form with subcylindrical spiky leaves that resemble D. trifasicata. The leaves grow from a rosette and are 1 inch wide and up to 7 feet tall with longitudinal stripes. It will occasionally to rarely bloom in a container.
Grow this plant in well-drained succulent soil and only water about every 2 weeks in summer and monthly in winter. Place it in a brightly lit window. If taken outdoors in the summer, only give it morning sun and bring indoors when the temperature falls below 55 degrees F.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dracaena
- Species:
- angolensis
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Africa
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Succulent
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- Fleshy red berry-type fruit when mature
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1-inch fragrant white tubular flowers are tinged pink and grow up a spike in summer. They have 5 linear lobes curled backward with long, white stamens extending well beyond the lobes. Flowers are arranged in a whorled pattern along a spike-like inflorescence that is actually a raceme.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Striped gray-green subcylindrical leaves 1" in diameter and up to 7 feet long growing from a basal rosette.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Houseplants
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
