Family: Asparagaceae
Species: Dracaena draco L.
Common name: Dragon Tree English: Island Dragon Tree, Dragon Tree-German: Drachenbaum, Drachenblutbaum
Etymology
The genus name derives from the Greek word meaning “female dragon,” referring to the red resin produced by the plant, which is called dragon’s blood. The species name reinforces the genus name, meaning “dragon.”
Description
This is an evergreen plant with a shrubby habit, though in its native regions it can reach up to 20 metres in height. It has a cylindrical trunk of dark grey colour, covered with the scars of old leaves. Several branches develop from the trunk, each bearing tufts of long, ribbon-like, grey-green leaves that taper to a point. It produces creamy-white, fragrant flowers gathered in panicles in spring, followed by fleshy, rounded, orange fruits. When mature, it forms a very striking umbrella-shaped silhouette. It grows best in sunny locations and, being a subtropical plant, does not tolerate low temperatures.
Habitat
Canary Islands, Madeira, Morocco, and the Azores.
Properties and Uses
When the bark or leaves are cut, they secrete a resin that oxidises and takes on a reddish colour, commonly referred to as dragon’s blood. Known even in ancient Roman times (for use as a dye), it was highly sought after in the Middle Ages by magicians and alchemists, who attributed therapeutic properties to it.
Notes and Curiosities
As a monocot plant, D. Draco does not display annual rings. The number of branch subdivisions can estimate its age. In Tenerife, one can see the “Millenary Dragon,” an ancient specimen that has become a tourist attraction.
It grows slowly, taking about a decade to reach just a few metres in height. Dracaena is often mistaken for Yucca. One key difference is how the leaves attach: when Dracaena leaves die, they fall off, leaving a characteristic diamond-shaped scar on the stem. When Yucca leaves die, however, they tend to remain attached, with new leaves emerging above them.
In the Heller garden, there are several Dracaena species: some with rather rigid, dark green leaves and a tree-like shape (such as D. Draco) and others with yellow-green foliage that is more elastic and flexible, reaching smaller heights. Strolling through the garden, one frequently encounters them in undergrowth areas because, although they prefer bright conditions, they do not like direct sunlight.
Dracaena is often valued as an indoor ornamental plant for homes and offices because it can improve air quality and reduce indoor pollution.