Dracaena belongs to the Asparagaceae family, a diverse group that includes asparagus and agaves. The genus, named from the Greek word “drakaina” meaning female dragon, likely refers to the red sap of some species resembling dragon’s blood. Comprising around 120 species, Dracaena plants are known as dragon trees, corn plants, or ribbon plants, names that reflect their striking foliage and tree-like growth, making them popular as ornamental houseplants.
Dracaena plants were first documented by European botanists in the 18th century during explorations of Africa and Asia, though indigenous peoples in these regions used them for centuries in traditional medicine, dyes, or rituals due to their resinous sap. Their rise as houseplants began in the 19th century, with their popularity surging in the 20th century during the houseplant boom, valued for their low-maintenance care and adaptability to indoor environments, becoming staples in homes and offices.
Native primarily to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, with some species in Asia, Australia, and Central America, Dracaena plants thrive in diverse habitats, from rainforests to arid savannas. They often grow as understory shrubs or small trees in shaded, humid environments, though some species adapt to drier conditions. This resilience to varied light and moisture levels makes them well-suited for indoor cultivation across different climates.
Dracaena plants are characterized by their long, strap-like or lance-shaped leaves, which can be glossy, leathery, or variegated, often arranged in rosettes or whorls atop slender, woody stems. They range in size from compact plants under 2 feet to tree-like forms exceeding 10 feet indoors. While they rarely bloom indoors, they may produce small, fragrant flowers in the wild. Their architectural form and vibrant foliage are their primary appeal, with some species featuring colorful leaf margins or stripes.
Dracaena plants are primarily grown as ornamental houseplants, valued for their elegant, tropical foliage that adds height and texture to indoor spaces like homes, offices, or public areas. They are effective air purifiers, removing toxins such as formaldehyde, and their adaptability to low light and minimal watering makes them ideal for beginners. In their native regions, some species are used for traditional crafts or medicinal purposes, while globally, they’re popular in decorative pots, as floor plants, or in feng shui practices for their symbolic association with good fortune.
Types of Dracaena Plants
Corn Plant
The Corn Plant has long, arching, green leaves with yellow stripes, resembling corn stalks, growing 4–6 feet indoors. Native to tropical Africa, it thrives in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, watered when the top inch is dry. Its lush, variegated foliage adds a tropical vibe to homes or offices.
Dragon Tree
The Dragon Tree features slender, red-edged green leaves in rosettes atop woody stems, growing 6–10 feet indoors. Native to Madagascar, it prefers bright, indirect light and infrequent watering, tolerating low humidity. Its bold, spiky look makes it a dramatic focal point for modern interiors.
Lemon Lime Dracaena
The Lemon Lime Dracaena, a cultivar of Dracaena fragrans, boasts vibrant green leaves with lime-green and yellow stripes. Growing 4–7 feet indoors, it thrives in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, needing moderate watering. Its colorful, cheerful foliage brightens up any indoor space.
Lucky Bamboo
Lucky Bamboo, often grown in water, has green, bamboo-like stems with curled or straight leaves, reaching 1–3 feet. Native to Cameroon, it thrives in low to bright indirect light and requires clean water or well-draining soil. Its symbolic association with good fortune makes it a popular gift.
Janet Craig Dracaena
The Janet Craig Dracaena features glossy, dark green leaves in dense rosettes, growing 3–6 feet indoors. Native to tropical Africa, it tolerates low light but prefers bright, indirect light and well-draining soil with infrequent watering. Its sleek, elegant look suits offices or minimalist decor.
Warneckii Dracaena
The Warneckii Dracaena has stiff, green leaves with white or grayish stripes, growing 3–5 feet indoors. Native to tropical Africa, it thrives in medium to bright indirect light and well-draining soil, with moderate watering. Its variegated, upright foliage adds texture to indoor settings.
Marginata Dracaena
The Marginata Dracaena, also called Madagascar Dragon Tree, features thin, green leaves with red margins, growing 6–8 feet indoors. Native to Madagascar, it prefers bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, tolerating drought. Its slender, spiky form is ideal for narrow spaces.
Reflexa Dracaena
The Reflexa Dracaena, or Song of India, has short, glossy green leaves with yellow edges, growing 3–6 feet indoors. Native to Mauritius and Madagascar, it thrives in bright, indirect light and high humidity, with well-draining soil. Its bushy, vibrant foliage enhances tropical decor.
Colorama Dracaena
The Colorama Dracaena, a Marginata cultivar, features slender leaves with bold pink, red, and green stripes. Growing 4–6 feet indoors, it needs bright, indirect light to maintain vibrant colors and well-draining soil with infrequent watering. Its colorful, wispy foliage adds a lively accent.
Compacta Dracaena
The Compacta Dracaena, a Janet Craig cultivar, has short, dark green leaves in tight rosettes, growing 2–4 feet indoors. Native to Africa, it tolerates low light but prefers bright, indirect light and moist, well-draining soil. Its compact, lush form is perfect for small spaces.
Lisa Dracaena
The Lisa Dracaena, another Janet Craig cultivar, features glossy, dark green leaves with a slightly wavy edge, growing 3–5 feet indoors. It thrives in low to bright indirect light and well-draining soil, needing minimal watering. Its sleek, uniform look suits modern interiors.
Limelight Dracaena
The Limelight Dracaena, a fragrans cultivar, has striking chartreuse-green leaves, growing 4–7 feet indoors. Native to Africa, it prefers bright, indirect light to maintain its vivid color and well-draining soil with moderate watering. Its bright, glowing foliage adds a bold statement.
Rikki Dracaena
The Rikki Dracaena, a fragrans cultivar, features long, arching leaves with yellow-green centers and dark green edges, growing 4–6 feet indoors. It thrives in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, with infrequent watering. Its variegated, elegant foliage enhances indoor spaces.
Dorado Dracaena
The Dorado Dracaena, a fragrans cultivar, has broad, arching leaves with creamy yellow stripes on dark green, growing 4–6 feet indoors. It prefers bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, tolerating moderate drought. Its soft, variegated foliage adds a tropical, airy feel.
Massangeana Dracaena
The Massangeana Dracaena, a fragrans cultivar, features wide, green leaves with a central yellow stripe, growing 4–6 feet indoors. Native to Africa, it thrives in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, needing moderate watering. Its bold, corn-like foliage is a classic choice.
Anita Dracaena
The Anita Dracaena, a Reflexa cultivar, has slender, glossy green leaves in dense clusters, growing 3–5 feet indoors. Native to Mauritius, it prefers bright, indirect light, high humidity, and well-draining soil. Its delicate, bushy form adds elegance to small spaces.
White Jewel Dracaena
The White Jewel Dracaena, a Warneckii cultivar, has green leaves with bold white stripes, growing 3–5 feet indoors. It thrives in medium to bright indirect light and well-draining soil, with moderate watering. Its striking, variegated foliage brightens up indoor corners.
Surprise Dracaena
The Surprise Dracaena, a fragrans cultivar, features narrow, green leaves with creamy white centers, growing 3–5 feet indoors. It prefers bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, with infrequent watering. Its compact, vibrant foliage is ideal for adding color to tabletops.
Cinnabar Dracaena
The Cinnabar Dracaena, a Marginata cultivar, has thin, green leaves with deep red to burgundy edges, growing 4–6 feet indoors. Native to Madagascar, it thrives in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, tolerating drought. Its rich, colorful edges add drama to decor.
Florida Beauty Dracaena
The Florida Beauty Dracaena, an Arboricola-related cultivar, has broad, green leaves with creamy yellow spots, growing 2–4 feet indoors. It thrives in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, needing moderate humidity. Its speckled foliage offers a playful, tropical aesthetic.
Gold Dust Dracaena
The Gold Dust Dracaena, related to Arboricola, features green leaves with golden-yellow speckles, growing 2–4 feet indoors. It prefers bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, with moderate watering. Its dotted, vibrant foliage adds a unique, sparkling touch to indoor displays.
Song of Jamaica Dracaena
The Song of Jamaica Dracaena, a cultivar of Dracaena reflexa, features glossy green leaves with creamy yellow variegation, growing in dense clusters to 3–6 feet indoors. Native to Mauritius, it thrives in bright, indirect light, high humidity, and well-draining soil. Its vibrant, bushy foliage adds a tropical, festive vibe to indoor spaces.
Burley Dracaena
The Burley Dracaena, a Dracaena fragrans cultivar, has broad, arching green leaves with bold yellow-green stripes, growing 4–7 feet indoors. Native to tropical Africa, it prefers bright, indirect light and well-draining soil with moderate watering. Its lush, variegated foliage makes it a striking choice for offices or living rooms.
Hawaiian Sunshine Dracaena
The Hawaiian Sunshine Dracaena, a fragrans cultivar, features dark green leaves with a central chartreuse stripe, growing 4–6 feet indoors. It thrives in medium to bright indirect light and well-draining soil, tolerating moderate drought. Its bright, cheerful foliage adds a sunny, tropical feel to indoor decor.
Malaika Dracaena
The Malaika Dracaena, a fragrans cultivar, has glossy green leaves with creamy white and yellow variegation, growing 3–5 feet indoors. It needs bright, indirect light to maintain its vibrant colors and well-draining soil with infrequent watering. Its variegated, compact form is perfect for small spaces or tabletops.
Magenta Dracaena
The Magenta Dracaena, a Marginata cultivar, features slender green leaves with vivid magenta-pink edges, growing 4–6 feet indoors. Native to Madagascar, it thrives in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, tolerating low humidity. Its bold, colorful edges add a dramatic, modern touch to interiors.
Tricolor Dracaena
The Tricolor Dracaena, a Marginata cultivar, has thin leaves with green centers, pink margins, and cream stripes, growing 4–7 feet indoors. It prefers bright, indirect light to maintain its multicolored foliage and well-draining soil with minimal watering. Its vibrant, wispy look is ideal for adding color to corners.
Art Dracaena
The Art Dracaena, a fragrans cultivar, features arching green leaves with yellow-green variegation, growing 4–6 feet indoors. It thrives in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, needing moderate watering. Its lush, artistic foliage makes it a versatile choice for enhancing indoor aesthetics.
Lemon Surprise Dracaena
The Lemon Surprise Dracaena, a fragrans cultivar, has dark green leaves with lime-green and yellow stripes, growing 3–5 feet indoors. It needs bright, indirect light to preserve its vibrant colors and well-draining soil with infrequent watering. Its zesty, colorful foliage brightens up any room.
White Stripe Dracaena
The White Stripe Dracaena, a Warneckii cultivar, features green leaves with bold white stripes, growing 3–5 feet indoors. Native to Africa, it thrives in medium to bright indirect light and well-draining soil, tolerating moderate drought. Its crisp, variegated foliage adds a clean, modern look to spaces.
Green Jewel Dracaena
The Green Jewel Dracaena, a Janet Craig cultivar, has glossy, solid dark green leaves in dense rosettes, growing 3–5 feet indoors. It tolerates low light but prefers bright, indirect light and well-draining soil with minimal watering. Its sleek, uniform foliage suits minimalist or professional settings.
Bicolor Dracaena
The Bicolor Dracaena, a Marginata cultivar, features slender green leaves with red and cream stripes, growing 4–6 feet indoors. Native to Madagascar, it thrives in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, tolerating drought. Its multicolored, wispy foliage adds a dynamic, tropical flair.
Linda Dracaena
The Linda Dracaena, a fragrans cultivar, has broad, glossy green leaves with subtle yellow variegation, growing 4–6 feet indoors. It prefers bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, needing moderate watering. Its lush, slightly variegated foliage is ideal for adding softness to indoor spaces.
Elegans Dracaena
The Elegans Dracaena, related to Dracaena reflexa, features slender, glossy green leaves in dense clusters, growing 3–6 feet indoors. Native to Mauritius, it thrives in bright, indirect light, high humidity, and well-draining soil. Its elegant, bushy form enhances tropical or modern decor.
Tarzan Dracaena
The Tarzan Dracaena, a Marginata cultivar, has spiky, green leaves with red edges, forming a fuller, bushier shape than other Marginatas, growing 4–7 feet indoors. It thrives in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, tolerating drought. Its wild, textured look adds drama to interiors.
Gold Star Dracaena
The Gold Star Dracaena, a Warneckii cultivar, features green leaves with golden-yellow stripes, growing 3–5 feet indoors. It needs bright, indirect light to maintain its vibrant variegation and well-draining soil with moderate watering. Its bold, starry foliage brightens up any space.
Jade Jewel Dracaena
The Jade Jewel Dracaena, a Warneckii cultivar, has compact, green leaves with creamy white and silver-gray variegation, growing 2–4 feet indoors. It thrives in medium to bright indirect light and well-draining soil, tolerating low humidity. Its petite, variegated form is perfect for tabletops.
Angustifolia Dracaena
The Angustifolia Dracaena, a species related to Marginata, features narrow, green leaves with subtle red margins, growing 5–8 feet indoors. Native to Madagascar, it prefers bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, with infrequent watering. Its slender, elegant foliage suits narrow spaces.
Stedmanii Dracaena
The Stedmanii Dracaena, a rare species, has long, broad green leaves in loose rosettes, growing 4–6 feet indoors. Native to tropical Africa, it thrives in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, needing moderate watering. Its lush, tropical foliage adds a bold, natural vibe to interiors.