Dragon Tree Dracaena fragrans
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Dragon Tree:
Previously known as:
- Dracaena deremensis
- Dracaena massangeana
- Phonetic Spelling
- dra-SEE-nah FRAY-granz
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Corn plant is a slow-growing, broadleaf evergreen, perennial shrub in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). Its native home is tropical Africa, but it is widely grown as a houseplant or interiorscape plant in the United States and elsewhere. It is commonly called a corn plant because of the resemblance of the tall, unbranched stem to a stalk of corn with many broad, strap-like leaves. The species epithet refers to the sweetly fragrant flowers.
Keep it in bright to moderate, filtered light. Direct sun can burn the foliage, but if light levels are too low, the leaves will narrow. Keep the soil moist during the growing season but cut back on the water in the winter. Grow it in commercial potting soil in a pot with drainage holes. Repot it into a larger pot when the plant starts to lift out of the pot or send roots out of the drainage hole. Leaves can turn brown at the tips if indoor humidity is too low. A humidifier may help to prevent leaf tip browning, especially in the winter when the house is heated. Keep the temperature above 50 degrees F if possible. Corn plants thrive in temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees F. Propagate by stem cuttings.
Numerous cultivars of the corn plant are available. The plain-green, wild-type is less commonly seen than those with white or lime-green longitudinal stripes on the leaves. The cultivar ‘Janet Craig’ has shorter leaves borne on more compact stems. The flowers are borne in clusters on long stalks. They are infrequently produced but make their presence known by their very strong nocturnal fragrance.
In tropical climates, cultivars of this species are used as landscape plants as specimens, filler, screens, or hedges. In the temperate zone, the corn plant is a houseplant or interiorscape plant. It has been shown by NASA to remove indoor air pollutants.
Quick ID Hints:
- Indoor shrub with spirally arranged leaves
- Leaves linear-lanceolate, 1 to 4 inches wide and 12 to 18 inches long
- The woody stem is tan and about 2 inches in diameter.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It is susceptible to thrips and mealybugs. It is sensitive to fluorides and built-up salts, so if leaves turn brown, try watering with non-fluoridated water and flush salts monthly.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Bausei'
Leaves have central white band. - 'Compacta' or Dracaena Janet Craig
height 3 to 6 feet, solid green leaved cultivar with dense clusters of short leaves and wavy margins - 'Dorado'
thick, dark green leaves with lime green edges, leaves curl downwards - 'Hawaiian Sunshine'
compact, glossy, dark green leave with light and dark green stripes - 'Lemon Lime'
sword-like leaves with cream-colored, greenish-yellow, and lime stripes - 'Limelight'
glossy variegated yellow-green leaves that become lighter with age - 'Massangeana' or 'Mass Cane'
resembles cornstalk leaves, center of the leaves have yellowish-lime stripes - 'Warneckii'
grayish-green leaves with white or green stripes - 'White Jewel'
glossy dark green leave with white stripes and a small amount of light green stripes
- 'Bausei'
- 'Bausei', 'Compacta' or Dracaena Janet Craig, 'Dorado', 'Hawaiian Sunshine', 'Lemon Lime', 'Limelight', 'Massangeana' or 'Mass Cane', 'Warneckii', 'White Jewel'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bausei'
Leaves have central white band. - 'Compacta' or Dracaena Janet Craig
height 3 to 6 feet, solid green leaved cultivar with dense clusters of short leaves and wavy margins - 'Dorado'
thick, dark green leaves with lime green edges, leaves curl downwards - 'Hawaiian Sunshine'
compact, glossy, dark green leave with light and dark green stripes - 'Lemon Lime'
sword-like leaves with cream-colored, greenish-yellow, and lime stripes - 'Limelight'
glossy variegated yellow-green leaves that become lighter with age - 'Massangeana' or 'Mass Cane'
resembles cornstalk leaves, center of the leaves have yellowish-lime stripes - 'Warneckii'
grayish-green leaves with white or green stripes - 'White Jewel'
glossy dark green leave with white stripes and a small amount of light green stripes
- 'Bausei'
- 'Bausei', 'Compacta' or Dracaena Janet Craig, 'Dorado', 'Hawaiian Sunshine', 'Lemon Lime', 'Limelight', 'Massangeana' or 'Mass Cane', 'Warneckii', 'White Jewel'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dracaena
- Species:
- fragrans
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical Africa
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 14 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-trunked
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a small orange-red berry. Rarely blooms or fruits as a house plant.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers appear in panicles 6–60 in. long. Individual flowers are an inch in diameter, with a six-lobed corolla, starting out as pink, opening white with a fine red or purple central line on each of the lobes. The flowers are highly fragrant at night. Rarely blooms as a house plant.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Variegated
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are glossy green and can be variegated with white or yellow. They grow up to 18 in long, and 3 to 5 in wide. Leaves droop as they get longer. Crowded, arranged spirally, sessile, clasping to sheathing, simple, linear-lanceolate, acute, entire, prominent midrib, all green or with medial yellow or white stripe(s). The foliage looks similar to corn leaves.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Unbranched, woody stem
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Humidity
- Pollution
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Toxic, if ingested, by cats, dogs, and humans: mouth irritation, stomach irritation, vomiting, loss of appetite depression, drooling, difficulty breathing. The sap may cause skin irritation.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- saponin
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Stems
