Spanish Dagger Dracaena cincta
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Spanish Dagger:
Previously known as:
- Dracaena marginata
- Phonetic Spelling
- dra-SEE-nah SINK-tuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Dragon Tree is an evergreen house plant from Madagascar. In its native habitat, it grows as a shrub or tree up to 20 feet tall. As a houseplant, it will grow 6-15 feet but can be pruned to keep it shorter. The top spiral of leaves can then be rooted and a new plant started.
The long strap-like leaves grow in a spiral around the trunk with the lower leaves falling off and leaving distinctive diamond-shaped leaf scars. They are dark green with reddish edges. It rarely blooms as a houseplant.
Plant in a loamy potting mix with good drainage. It needs medium moisture during the growing season but reduce water in the winter. Dragon Tree does best in bright indirect light with moderate humidity. The leaf tips will brown if the humidity is too low.
Quick ID Hints:
- Narrow, linear leaves are less than 1 inch wide
- Leaves spirally arranged around the unbranched trunk
- Foliar margins are red or reddish-brown
Pest: Spider mites and scale
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Tricolor'
Adds a thin yellow strip to the leaf
- 'Tricolor'
- 'Tricolor'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Tricolor'
Adds a thin yellow strip to the leaf
- 'Tricolor'
- 'Tricolor'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dracaena
- Species:
- cincta
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Madagascar, Mauritius
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
-
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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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/2 inch berries are yellow-orange
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Fragrant small white flowers in terminal panicles. Rarely flowers as a house plant.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The 2 feet long by .5 inch wide leaves are arranged spirally near the top of the stem. They are dark green with reddish edges and no stems.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Light gray stems have diamond-shaped leaf scars
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
