Growing guide

How to grow dracaena

Handsome, undemanding and well-suited to conditions in our homes, dracaenas are deservedly popular houseplants. With a fountain of narrow, glossy leaves at the top of a woody stem, they can have an almost palm-like appearance as they grow taller.

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Quick facts

  • They need year-round warmth and indirect light

  • Plants can be damaged by fluoride in tap water, so use rainwater or filtered water if possible

  • The main stem gets taller over time, potentially reaching a stately 2m (6½ft) or more

  • They occasionally produce clusters of small, white, starry flowers that perfume the whole room

  • All parts of the plant are toxic

All you need to know

Before you get started
Planting
Ongoing care
Pruning and training
Propagating
Problems
While we think all this information will be helpful to you, we always recommend to read the instruction labels on your plants.

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.