Dracaena draco (Dragon Tree / Drago)

🌳 Dracaena draco (Dragon Tree / Drago)

Botanical Name: Dracaena draco
Common Names: Dragon Tree, Drago, Canary Islands Dragon Tree
Family: Asparagaceae
Origin: Native to the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Madeira, and western Morocco.

🌱 Plant Description

Dracaena draco is a slow-growing, long-lived succulent tree admired for its dramatic architectural form and striking foliage. It can reach up to 12 meters tall outdoors, with a thick, branching trunk that produces umbrella-like clusters of sword-shaped leaves.

• Leaves: Long, stiff, pointed, sword-shaped, gray-green leaves arranged in dense rosettes at the ends of branches.

• Trunk: Thick, woody, and branching; older trees have a stout, sculptural trunk.

• Flowers: Small, greenish-white flowers appear rarely on mature trees.

• Sap: Produces red resin known as “Dragon’s Blood”, historically valued for dyes, medicines, and varnishes.

🌸 Key Features

• Architectural Form: Unique branching pattern and sculptural appearance make it an excellent statement plant.

• Long-Lived: Can live for hundreds of years; some specimens in the wild are over 500 years old.

• Drought-Tolerant: Stores water in its trunk and leaves, thriving in arid climates.

• Low Maintenance: Requires minimal watering once established.

🌍 Uses & Benefits

1. Ornamental Value – Popular in gardens, patios, and landscapes for its bold, exotic look.

2. Cultural & Historical Significance – Dragon’s blood resin has been used in traditional medicine, rituals, and varnishes.

3. Architectural Appeal – Makes a striking focal point in public or private gardens.

4. Low Water Requirement – Excellent choice for xeriscaping and drought-prone areas.

🌤️ Growing Conditions & Care

• Light: Prefers full sun to partial shade; needs bright light for best growth.

• Soil: Well-draining soil; tolerates sandy, rocky, or poor soils.

• Watering: Low; water sparingly and allow soil to dry between watering.

• Temperature: Suited to warm, subtropical, and Mediterranean climates; sensitive to frost.

• Pruning: Minimal; remove dead leaves and maintain shape as desired.

• Propagation: From seeds or stem cuttings (slow-growing).

✅ Best For:

• Tropical, subtropical, and Mediterranean gardens

• Indoor large containers or atriums (smaller specimens)

• Gardeners seeking a dramatic, long-lived, and low-maintenance architectural tree