Genus

Dracaena Care Guide: Snake Plants, Dragon Trees and More

A tough genus built for dry air and low light, and the one that absorbed Sansevieria in 2017. Most of them ask for very little.

  • Family: Asparagaceae
  • Native to Africa, Madagascar and southern Asia
  • Easy

Dracaena covers a wide range of plants that look nothing alike. Dragon trees grow on a woody stem with a crown of strappy leaves. Snake plants send stiff upright blades straight out of the soil.

The Sansevieria change

In 2017 the genus Sansevieria was folded into Dracaena, based on genetic work showing they were the same lineage. So the Snake Plant is now Dracaena trifasciata rather than Sansevieria trifasciata.

The plant trade has largely ignored this, and you will still see Sansevieria on labels and in shops. Both names refer to the same plant.

What every Dracaena wants

Bright, indirect light suits most of the genus, though many tolerate much less. They store water and prefer to dry out between waterings, so overwatering is the main risk.

Most Dracaena are sensitive to fluoride in tap water, which shows as brown leaf tips. Filtered water solves it.