Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia

Natural range of Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia

The Madagascar dragon tree is native to Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues and other islands in the western Indian Ocean. In nature, Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia grows as a woody shrub or tree.

The older name Dracaena marginata is still widely used for the same plant.

Caring for Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia, the Madagascar dragon tree

• Light: Place the plant in bright indirect light to keep the leaves dense at the stem tips and the canes growing steadily.
• Temperature and humidity: Warm, stable conditions around 18–27 °C suit it; 10 °C is the lower limit for prolonged exposure. Use 50–60% as the normal humidity range.
• Watering: Water when the mix near the surface feels dry while deeper layers are still slightly moist. Water thoroughly and let the excess drain.
• Slower growth: During slower growth, leave longer gaps between watering and feeding, and let the upper mix dry further.
• Water quality: The narrow leaves are sensitive to fluoride and mineral residue. Rainwater or distilled water can help protect the tips and edges from fluoride damage.
• Potting mix: Use a loose mix that drains quickly and has enough weight to support the upright canes.
• Feeding: Feed lightly while the plant is putting out new leaves.
• Repotting: Choose the next pot size when roots are crowded. For a tall plant whose roots still have room, steady the cane or use a heavier outer pot without leaving collected water inside it.
• Pruning and propagation: Cut back a cane that has grown too tall; new shoots can develop lower down. Leafy tops and bare stem sections can both be rooted.

Madagascar dragon tree problems: Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia

• Brown tips or edges: fluoride, hard water and excess fertiliser are common triggers. Use rainwater or distilled water, feed lightly and flush accumulated salts only if water drains freely through the pot, then allow the mix to drain completely.
• Pale bands across the leaves: cold exposure can leave permanent horizontal marks. Return the plant to steady warmth and keep the leaves away from cold glass and draughts.
• Dark spots that continue to spread: leaf spot may be developing. Small pale flecks near the tips of new leaves sometimes have an uncertain cause; expanding reddish-brown spots with yellow halos may indicate a fungal leaf spot, including Fusarium. Confirm the cause before using a disease-specific chemical. Water the potting mix, keeping the leaves dry. Give the plant better airflow and remove heavily marked leaves with clean shears.
• Yellow leaves with soft, dark roots: root rot can develop if moisture remains around the roots for too long. Take the plant out of its pot and use disinfected shears to remove only clearly soft, rotten roots, retaining all firm healthy tissue. Once the remaining roots feel firm and healthy, discard the damaged roots and repot in fresh fast-draining mix.
• Fine pale speckling or silvery marks: inspect the narrow leaf clusters for mites or thrips. Isolate the plant from other houseplants while treatment is underway. If treatment is needed, choose a houseplant product that lists mites or thrips. Use the amount given on the label and wait as directed before treating again.

Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• It contains saponins that can irritate the mouth and digestive tract.
• Chewing may cause drooling, vomiting, stomach pain, reduced appetite or weakness. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop.

Dracaena reflexa: where the name comes from

Dracaena comes from Greek drakaina, meaning a female dragon. The epithet reflexa is Latin for bent or turned backwards, referring to the recurved leaves.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Dracaena in 1767 in Mantissa Plantarum, page 9; Domenico Vandelli had proposed the name.

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck first described Dracaena reflexa in 1786 in Encyclopédie, volume 2, page 324.