Dracaena draco - Dragon Tree

Dracaena draco is the Latin name of the Canary Island Dragon Tree, an emblematic tree-like plant from the eponymous islands where it is now endangered. It is a frost-sensitive species, extraordinarily unusual due to its umbrella-like habit: supported by a trunk that branches after each flowering, its crown is composed of multiple juxtaposed rosettes where long blue-green leaves are tightly packed. The dragon tree gets its other name, 'Dragon's Blood', from the blood-red colour of the resinous sap that exudes from its trunk when cut. It is mostly grown in pots, as its hardiness does not exceed -2°C (28.4 °F) for a mature specimen. It can be taken out on the terrace or balcony from April to October and brought indoors to protect it from frost in winter.

Dracaena draco belongs to the Liliaceae or Dracaenaceae family, depending on the classification. It is native to the Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria), Cape Verde, Madeira and Morocco. In the wild, the common dragon tree can reach a height of 20 m (65 ft 7 in) and a spread of 8 to 9 m (26 ft 2 in to 29 ft 6 in), and live for several centuries. When grown in pots, it will not exceed 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in height and 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) in width.

Like palms, the Dracaena draco does not develop a true trunk, but a brown-coloured stipe, which is a large herbaceous stem made rigid and thick by a high number of fibres and sap-conducting vessels. The top of this stipe initially produces a single tuft of leaves. The first flowering occurs on plants at least 15 years old in the wild. It takes the form of small white-greenish flowers that are quite inconspicuous but fragrant, which produce small inedible red fruits. After flowering, the top of the stipe divides into several short "branches," and each new branching in turn produces a rosette of leaves. So that after several years, the top of the plant presents a massive canopy, in the shape of a more or less flattened or rounded spherical cap. The leaves, which persist throughout the year, are long and tapering and blue-green. The resinous sap that flows from wounds takes on a reddish-brown colour as it dries. It is recognized for its medicinal properties and used in cosmetics.

With its characteristic silhouette, the Canary Island Dragon Tree is a very beautiful conservatory or indoor plant, to be showcased in a contemporary or exotic-inspired decor. Fans of unusual and beautiful plants can also adopt agaves, banana trees, baobabs, or even the bird of paradise Strelitzia reginae to bring a beautiful tropical touch to the terrace or conservatory.