A three-stemmed dragon tree with narrow, arching dark green leaves edged in red, giving a full, sculptural plant from the start.
Dracaena marginata comes from Madagascar and is one of the most popular architectural houseplants for good reason. This specimen has three stems, each topped with a spiky crown of slender leaves, so it already has the presence of a floor plant and will grow into a tall statement piece over the years. It is as easy as houseplants get, forgiving of neglect, and dracaenas were among the strongest performers in the NASA clean air study.
It grows best in good light with shade from hot sun, but the RHS confirms it tolerates low light indoors, so it will cope in a duller corner. Let the top few centimetres of compost dry out between waterings, water less in winter, and never let the pot sit in water. Brown leaf tips are usually caused by the salts and fluoride in tap water, so rainwater is better. Keep it above 10C and away from cold draughts, and feed once a month in spring and summer. A leggy plant can be cut back to within 15cm of the base in spring and will shoot again.
Supplied as one three-stemmed plant in a 3 litre pot, well established and ready to go straight into your chosen spot. Dracaena is harmful if eaten by cats, dogs, rabbits and rodents, so keep it out of their reach.
Cultural Information
Common Name: Dragon tree
Fully Grown Height and Spread: Up to 2 to 3m tall indoors over many years
Growth Habit: Upright and multi-stemmed
Perfect For: Living rooms, bedrooms, offices, hallways and darker corners
Foliage: Narrow, arching, dark green leaves with red-purple margins
Flowering Time: Grown for foliage; rarely flowers indoors
Planting Position: Bright, medium or low light indoors, shaded from hot sun
Soil Type: Free-draining houseplant compost
Hardiness: Tender, indoor only; keep above 10C
Maintenance: Low; let the compost dry between waterings
Seasonal Interest: Evergreen foliage
Type: Evergreen foliage houseplant
