Red-Edged Dracaena (Dracaena Marginata) - Plant

Red-Edged Dracaena (Dracaena Marginata) - Plant

Dracaena marginata (Madagascar Dragon Tree or Red Edged Dracaena) is a flowering plant in the family Ruscaceae, native to Madagascar. It is a slow-growing shrub or small tree, eventually reaching heights of 2-5 m. The thin leaves are linear and a deep, glossy green color with red edges; typically 30-90 cm long and 2-7 cm broad, tapering to an acuminate point.

Cultivation & Uses

It is a popular houseplant that needs little attention, with several cultivars available with the leaves variegated with red or pale yellow. It requires a minimum temperature of 15 °C (59 °F), and is more tolerant than most plants of dry soil and irregular watering, though liable to root decay in permanently wet soil. Because it requires minimal care it is very popular in offices where the constant heat and light suits their growing requirements.

• It has been widely confused with other species of Dracaena, and many or most of the plants in cultivation under this name may actually be D. cincta or D. concinna (Huxley 1992).
• It is one of the plants used in the NASA Clean Air Study and has shown to help remove formaldehyde.
• The dragon tree is an effective air-cleaner and is among the best plants for removing xylene and trichloroethylene