Dragon tree

Dragon tree: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Slow-growing, tree-like plant. As a houseplant 0.5–1.5 m high and up to 1 m wide, usually with a single trunk that only branches after many years.

Leaves

Stiff and sword-shaped, up to about 50 cm long, grey- to blue-green, sometimes with a fine reddish edge. They form a dense rosette on top.

Trunk

Thick, grey and smooth. It does not form true growth rings.

Flowers

Almost never flowers indoors. Outdoors, white flower clusters appear after many years.

Roots

Strong and fairly shallow: it needs well-drained soil.

Plants: March–April

Why grow it?

• Clean-lined, sculptural and sturdy: an architectural plant for a sunny window.
• Grows very slowly and stays compact for years: little maintenance.
• Tolerates dry air and the odd forgotten watering: it rarely needs water.
• Can spend the summer outdoors, where it often grows well.
• A plant with a story: the legendary dragon tree with its red resin.

Dragon tree: where does it grow best?

• Light: place it close to a south- or west-facing window with plenty of sun. After winter, get it used to strong sun gradually.
• Temperature: 18–25 °C in summer; cooler in winter, 8–12 °C. Preferably do not let it drop below about 5 °C; 0 °C is the absolute limit.
• Soil: free-draining cactus compost or potting compost with sand or perlite, neutral.
• Dry air is no problem, but do not put it next to a radiator or in a draught.
• Allow a space of 50–80 cm across; it grows slowly.

Light

Sunny

Potting soil

Cactus compost or multi-purpose compost

Acidity

Neutral

Watering

Sparingly

Size

1.5 m tall, 1 m wide

Temperature

Minimum 0 °C

Goes well with

• Aloe: Same light and little water, lovely in a sunny group.
• Agave: A stiff, sculptural companion.
• Echeveria: Low rosettes in front of the trunk, with the same care.
• Mother-in-law’s tongue: Upright leaves, just as easy.

Dragon tree: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April.

1. Repot in March–April, when the plant is growing actively again.
2. Choose a pot only 2–4 cm wider than the root ball, with a hole in the bottom. Terracotta is stable and dries quickly.
3. Put a layer of crocks or clay pebbles in the bottom and fill with loose, free-draining compost: cactus compost or potting compost with a third coarse sand or perlite.
4. Set the plant at the same depth as before and firm the compost lightly.
5. Give a little water, let the excess drain away and put it in a bright spot.
6. Repot young plants every 2–3 years, older ones every 3–4 years. A snug pot is not a problem.

Care

Water

In spring and summer when the top 3–5 cm of the compost is dry, about every 1–2 weeks. Let the excess drain away. In winter hardly any: a little every 3–4 weeks.

Feeding

From April to September, half-strength cactus or houseplant feed every 4 weeks. Do not feed in winter.

Dusting

Wipe the leaves now and then with a damp cloth so they catch the light well.

Going outside

From late May, move it outdoors gradually: first a few days in half shade, then in a sunny spot. Bring it back indoors in September, before nights get colder than 10 °C.

Tip: Let the compost dry out well between waterings: too much water is the most common cause of problems. A cool, bright winter gives it the rest it needs to grow again in spring.

Dragon tree: when to prune it?

When: It is not pruned. You only remove withered leaves.

How:

• Pull or cut off withered lower leaves close to the trunk in spring; often they drop off by themselves.
• Trim brown leaf tips with sharp scissors, following the shape of the leaf.
• You can shorten it, but it grows so slowly that you had better not. After cutting off the top, new shoots take a long time to appear.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Tip cutting

In spring or summer: cut off a head with 15–20 cm of trunk, let the cut dry for a few days and insert it in sandy compost in a warm (about 24 °C), bright spot. Keep the compost slightly moist. Rooting can take a long time.

Seed

The seed germinates at 22–25 °C, slowly and erratically. It takes years before you have a little trunk.

Dragon tree: how does it get through the winter?

• Keep it cool and bright: 8–12 °C is ideal, never below about 5 °C.
• Give hardly any water: a little every 3–4 weeks, so that the compost never stays wet for long.
• Do not feed and do not put it next to a radiator: dry, warm air plus little light gives brown tips and spider mite.
• If it is kept warmer (18–20 °C), give it as much light as possible and slightly more water.

Diseases and pests

• Soft trunk or leaf bases: Rot caused by too much water: the trunk goes soft and the leaves yellow. Let the compost dry out, cut away rotten parts and be patient. If the rot is far advanced, only a tip cutting can save it.
• Brown leaf tips: Dry air, irregular watering or too much fertiliser. Water more regularly, feed less and trim the brown tips.
• Yellow lower leaves: This is normal when a few old leaves yellow and drop. Lots of yellow leaves point to too much water.
• Spider mite and mealybug: Fine webs or white cottony clumps between the leaves, especially in heated rooms. Rinse the plant, dab mealybugs with a cotton bud dipped in a little alcohol and move it somewhere cooler.

Through the year

• January: Rest: cool and bright, almost dry.
• March: Repot if necessary. Gradually get it used to more sun.
• April: Start feeding (every 4 weeks). Water when the top of the compost is dry.
• May: From late May, get it used to the outdoors gradually.
• June: Outdoors or at the window in the sun. Water when the compost is dry.
• July: Full sun. Water when the compost is dry, feed every 4 weeks.
• August: Water when the compost is dry. Feed.
• September: Last feed. Bring indoors before nights fall below 10 °C.
• October: Move somewhere cooler (8–12 °C). Reduce watering sharply.
• November: Rest: hardly any water.
• December: Rest: cool and bright, almost dry.

Edible and useful

Not edible. These dragon trees, the snake plant, lucky bamboo and the ti plant are mildly poisonous: the leaves contain saponins, which cause drooling, vomiting and sometimes diarrhoea and lethargy in cats and dogs; cats can also get dilated pupils. They like to chew the long, narrow leaves, which look like blades of grass: keep the plant out of their reach and clear up fallen or trimmed leaves. Do not let animals drink from the vase or bowl of lucky bamboo. A bit of leaf gives a child an upset stomach at most, but do not let children chew it. Call your vet if an animal has eaten a lot or falls ill. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Did you know?

• The red resin that oozes from the trunk is called ‘dragon’s blood’ and has been used as a dye and varnish since antiquity.
• In Icod de los Vinos on Tenerife stands a famous, very old specimen; its exact age is uncertain.
• It belongs to the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), like agave, and unlike ordinary trees it does not form true growth rings.