Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Garden

A guide to dracaena plants

Leafy, low maintenance and tropical. - by Lucy Francis
  • 23 Sep 2021

Dracaena plants are known for their lush, tall, spiky fronds, and have been favoured by gardeners and landscapers alike for their ability to produce a luxe tropical look with low to no effort.

WATCH: Charlie Albone's guide to succulents

Much like their lookalikes, yuccas, there are over 40 varieties of dracaenas, which vary in size, shape, colour and pattern. The most common are the dracaena draco (dragon tree), dracaena fragrans (happy plant), and the deremensis group. Again, much like yuccas and also succulents, the beauty of this spiked plant is that they are equally suited for indoor and outdoor growing and are incredibly hardy and low-maintenance.

The dracaena also gets brownie points for its ability to purify the air – and this is according to NASA, so you know it's true! But be careful, as while they can clean the air around you, they can also be toxic to cats and dogs, so it's best to keep them out of reach from prying snouts.

dracaena-plant
Adobe Stock

How to grow dracaenas

Aspect

Dracaenas are pretty low-fuss, meaning they can generally be grown just about anywhere. However, they will always perform best in bright, indirect sun. Too much sun or too little humidity will end in burnt, brown leaves. To up the humidity, lightly mist its leaves every now and then.

Climate

These spikey-leaved plants are pretty adaptable, too. They will thrive in most areas of Australia but need sun and well-draining soil, so if you live in a particularly wet area, it might be best to opt for a pot indoors.

Soil

Gritty soil is the go – dracaenas really need soil that can drain completely after a good water or rain if outdoors as root rot is a common threat to them.

Water

If your dracaena is outdoors, natural rainfall is usually enough to give it what it needs. If you keep your dracaena indoors, however, occasional watering will do the trick – just be careful not to go overboard!

Fertiliser

Dracaenas don't particularly need feeding, however, if you'd like, fertilise monthly with a slow-release fertiliser sparingly in the spring and summer months.

dracaena-plant
Adobe Stock

How to propagate a dracaena from cuttings

Much like succulents and many popular indoor plants, you can propagate and grow a dracaena from cuttings, such as trimmed tops. Simply pop them in water and wait for them to root! Be aware though, dracaenas in general are fairly slow-growing, so the process can be lengthy. Once the roots have grown to about 2.5cm long, you can plant or pot them.

  • Garden
  • Backyard Ideas
  • Front Garden Ideas
  • Landscape Design Ideas
Lucy Francis

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

How to grow and care for maiden hair ferns

How to grow and care for maiden hair ferns

The best plants to add to your terrarium

The best plants to add to your terrarium

How to grow a Venus flytrap

How to grow a Venus flytrap

How you're killing your fiddle leaf fig

How you're killing your fiddle leaf fig

{headline}

{headline}

The trendiest plant of 2018

The trendiest plant of 2018

How to grow potatoes in a bag

How to grow potatoes in a bag

How to make an aquascape fish tank

How to make an aquascape fish tank

{headline}

{headline}

7 easy ways to give your garden an edge

7 easy ways to give your garden an edge

What to plant in August

What to plant in August

How to make natural pesticide

How to make natural pesticide

How to repot a rose

How to repot a rose

5 of the best plants to hang in your home

5 of the best plants to hang in your home

The power and science behind living green walls

The power and science behind living green walls

Worm farming for beginners

Worm farming for beginners

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Shop This Offer
Treat yourself to a subscription