Song of India.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Tropical shrub

Light

Bright indirect light is best for keeping those leaf colors vibrant.

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 7 to 14 days

Mature size

3 to 6 feet indoors

Growth rate

Slow

Hardiness

USDA 10 to 12

Bloom time

Rarely blooms indoors, but occasionally in late winter.

Care

Keep the soil lightly moist but never soggy to prevent root issues. Watch for brown leaf tips, which often mean the air is too dry or your water has too many minerals. Wipe the leaves occasionally to keep them dust free and healthy.

Watering

Let the top inch of soil dry out before you add more water.

Feeding

Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the spring and summer months.

Pruning

Trim back the stems once a year if you want to encourage a bushier shape.

Repotting

Move to a slightly larger pot only when the roots start to crowd the current container.

Soil

Well draining peat based potting mix

Soil pH

6.0 to 6.5

Temperature

15 to 27°C

Humidity

40 to 60%

Drought tolerance

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial, can live for many decades with proper care.

Deer and rabbits

Moderate

Safety

People

The leaves contain saponins which are toxic to humans and pets if chewed or swallowed.

Pets

This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.

Children

Keep this plant out of reach of small children as the leaves are a choking hazard and toxic if consumed.

Contact allergens

The sap can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

There are no significant airborne allergens associated with this plant.

Edibility

This plant is not edible and can cause significant gastrointestinal distress if ingested.

How to identify it

• Narrow lance shaped leaves
• Yellow or cream leaf margins
• Spiral leaf arrangement on stems
• Woody cane like stems

Height

0.9 to 3m

Spread

0.6 to 1.5m

Leaves

dark green, yellow, lime, evergreen

Flowers

white, 1 to 2cm

Fruit

orange, red, rarely produced

Problems to watch for

• Spider mites · Tiny pests that cause yellowing leaves and fine webbing.
• Root rot · Occurs when the soil stays too wet for too long.

Growing it

Propagation

cuttings, air layering

When to plant

spring, summer

Overwintering

Move the plant indoors before temperatures drop below 15 degrees Celsius. Reduce watering during the winter months as growth slows down significantly.

In containers

It thrives in containers and prefers a pot that is only slightly larger than its root ball.

Group plants with similar water needs together to maintain a consistent microclimate.

Grows well with

• Peace Lily · They share similar light and humidity requirements.
• Pothos · It makes a lovely trailing contrast at the base of the plant.

Similar species

• Corn Plant · It has a similar growth habit but with much broader leaves.

Science

Family

Asparagaceae

Genus

Dracaena

Order

Asparagales

Class

Liliopsida

Native range

Madagascar and nearby islands in the Indian Ocean.

Conservation

Not currently listed as endangered in its native range.

It grows as an understory shrub in tropical forests where it thrives in filtered light.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Uses

indoor ornamental, office plant, container specimen

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why are the leaf tips turning brown?

This is usually caused by low humidity or fluoride in tap water.

How much light does it need?

It prefers bright, indirect light to maintain its leaf variegation.

Where the name comes from

The genus name comes from the Greek word drakaina, meaning female dragon, referring to the red resin of some species. The species name reflexa refers to the way the leaves bend backward.

Good to know

• It is incredibly slow growing.
• The stems are often braided by growers for a unique look.
• It is highly effective at filtering indoor air pollutants.

Also in

• Plants toxic to cats and dogs