How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Dracaena Marginata (Madagascar Dragon Tree)

There’s no better beginner houseplant than the Madagascar dragon tree, also known by its Latin name Dracaena marginata and sometimes going by the name Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia. It’s one of the more interesting houseplants you can grow!

It’s super easy to care for, requiring little light or water, and is quite hardy in most temperatures. Most indoor plants have a comparable care regimen, making it easy to add this plant to your indoor garden.

In this article, I will cover everything you need to know about Dracaena marginata care, propagation, and troubleshooting.

Let’s get started!

What is Dracaena Marginata?

The Madagascar dragon tree looks quite like palm trees, which is why many gardeners falsely assume it’s a member of the palm family. This couldn’t be further from the truth! It’s actually closely related to lilies!

Native Area

True to its name, the plant originates in Madagascar. It can also be found in many of the islands around Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The name ‘dracaena’ comes from a Greek word meaning female dragon. It gets this name due to the red, sticky, gum-like sap that comes out of the stems when cut. When it dries and thickens up, the gum looks a bit like dragon’s blood. But who really knows what dragon’s blood actually looks like, right?

In ancient Roman and Medieval times the gum was used in alchemy and magical arts. Today, it’s used in more practical pursuits like photo engraving and as a varnish.

Characteristics

The tree is characterized by long, narrow leaves that are extremely spiky. The foliage is generally dark green with edges adorned with reddish-purple and can grow up to 16 inches in length. As the tree grows, it will naturally lose its lowest leaves, leaving tufts of leaves atop a bare woody cane.

Although species vary, this variety can grow as tall as 20 feet in height. But, when kept as a houseplant or a potted plant, it generally only reaches around six to eight feet. The size can be controlled by cutting the tops off.

The cane can be cut at any height and within weeks you will begin to see a new tuft of leaves growing at the cut area. It’s better on the dragon plant’s health to cut the cane during spring or early summer.

Varieties

Even within this sub-species of Dracaena, there are a few different varieties of this attractive plant that you may want to consider:

Dracaena marginata ‘Tricolor’

‘Tricolor’ is very similar to the standard Dracaena marginata; however, it has three colors in its leaves instead of two. There is a yellow band between the red edges and the green center.

Dracaena marginata ‘Colorama’

‘Colorama’ is the coolest-looking variety, in my opinion. It grows slower than the other varieties but has a much more vibrant red/pink coloration.

Dracaena marginata ‘Tarzan’

‘Tarzan’ is unique not because of its color (it’s the same as the original Dracaena marginata), but because of the shape of the plant. It’s much spikier and spherical, and as it grows has a very unique and alien look to it.

Planting

To plant Dracaena marginata (Madagascar dragon tree) as a houseplant, start by selecting a pot with drainage holes that is two to three inches wider than the plant’s root ball. Fill the pot with well-draining soil, such as a cactus or palm mix.

Place the root ball in the pot, ensuring it sits about two to three inches below the rim. Fill around the roots with soil, pressing gently to eliminate air pockets. Leave one to two inches of space at the top for easy watering. Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom, and place the pot in bright, indirect light. Keep the plant’s soil slightly moist but not soggy for healthy growth.

How to Grow

Overall, Dracaena marginata (Madagascar dragon tree) is really easy to care for. However, that doesn’t mean you can just set it and forget it like succulents! There are a few considerations you should take into account with this plant that we’ll get into.

Light

Dracaena marginata thrives in partial shade or indirect light. If you grow it indoors, you should place it on a north-facing windowsill, near one facing east or west, and further away from one facing south.

You will know you’re giving the plant too much light if the leaves burn. On the flip side, you’ll know you aren’t giving it enough light when the accent colors on the leaves start to fade.

Water

Dragon trees prefer medium amounts of water. One good way to determine if it needs water is to wait until the soil is dry to about a third of the depth of the pot. Then give it a healthy drink so the soil is moist all the way to the top.

The leaves will give you a good idea whether you are providing too little or too much water. If you have a lot of leaves that are turning yellow and falling off, you’re probably not giving the plant enough water. If the leaves are starting to turn yellow at the tips, it could be a sign of too much water. Reduce watering to every few weeks in winter when the dragon tree is in dormancy.

To prevent rot, make sure that you provide good drainage and be careful not to over water. These are somewhat drought tolerant plants, but regular water is needed.

While it will tolerate most average home conditions, you can provide it with a little extra humidity through regular misting. Misting the tree regularly will also help prevent insect infestations.

Soil

There is nothing special here. They just need well-draining potting soil. Use a pot with drainage holes and a saucer to prevent rot, or add perlite to the soil mix to prevent water from pooling. You can choose premade cactus or palm mix as well.

Fertilizer

They don’t need much fertilizer, but if you do want to fertilize, do it once a month in the growth season (spring and summer) with a standard houseplant fertilizer at 50% strength. Try to find one with added trace minerals.

Temperature

Dracaena marginata (Madagascar dragon tree) can tolerate a variety of temperatures but does best in between 65 and 80°F (18-27°C). If it gets too cold, they will suffer greatly, so make sure you can keep your temperatures within that range for the best results.

Maintenance

You don’t have to prune your dragon tree, but it’s definitely fun! You have a lot of control over how your Dracaena marginata looks, which is why nurseries will often sell them in twisted shapes – they’re easy to train!

Choose to either just let it grow naturally, or twist several stalks together. They can even be trained to grow in spirals and can easily be bent to grow in various ways. It’s sort of the alternative to a small bonsai tree! You can also prune away dead leaves as they crop up.

Strangely enough, dragon trees do well when they are root-bound. Don’t rush to re-pot it when you purchase it from a nursery like you would with many other types of houseplants. If you do repot, plant in a planter just slightly larger than the root ball.

Propagation

Propagation of Dracaena marginata (Madagascar dragon tree) is so simple that retail nurseries often propagate it themselves rather than order more from wholesale nurseries. What does this mean for you? It means you can buy one plant and propagate from it to have an entire army of dragon trees!

To propagate cut off a stem of one of your mature plants and trim some of the lower leaves. Allow cuttings to dry for about an hour and then plant them in wet soil. The cuttings will start rooting after one to two weeks.

Common Problems

Dracaena marginata is pretty hardy, but the classic pests and diseases that affect most houseplants can also affect your dragon tree.

Growing Problems

Too little light will cause green leaves of your dragon tree plant, and too much will cause browning leaves. Overwatering can create conditions for rot and give your plant mushy leaves and stems. Underwatering will cause crispy brown leaf tips. Remember to keep your schedule consistent and your light sources ample – but not too ample!

Pests

Spider mites, scale insects, and mealybugs can attack your dragon tree if you’re not careful. To prevent them from ever getting near it, mist the leaves with water every so often. If you notice an infestation, add some insecticidal soap to the water and mist more aggressively. That should kill them all. Pop scale insects off the plant with a cotton swab soaked in 70% or less alcohol.

Diseases

Aside from root rot and leaf spot, both of which are standard houseplant issues, Dracaena marginata is quite sensitive to fluoride. If possible, you should water it with distilled water to avoid any fluoride toxicity. You’ll know your plant is suffering from toxicity if the leaves start to die at the tips, the color starts to warp, or there are large brown areas in the middle of your leaves.

The leaves can take on water-spotted lesions when they’re infected with botrytis or southern blight. Powdery mildew shows up as a powdery white film that occurs on the upper surface of the leaves. You can prevent these through adequate light and water.

Frequently Asked Questions