Looking for a hardy, versatile and easy to grow plant for your home or office? Consider one of the varieties of Dracaena reflexa. This is one of my personal favourites. Its shiny green or variegated, elongated leaves grow in a unique spiral arrangement. It grows relatively quickly and branches into interesting twisted forms. When pruned, the cuttings will readily take root in water or soil and will develop quickly into a new plant.
It is tolerant of a wide range of light conditions. The lighter coloured variety ‘Song of India, pictured top left, requires more light than the green varieties. One of the most common varieties is ‘Song of Jamaica’. The leaves of this plant are green with lighter central stripes. The image at the right is an beautiful large specimen of the ‘Song of Jamaica’
This plant is native to islands of the Indian Ocean, including Madagascar and Mauritius. In its native habitat, it may grow up to 6 meters in height. It is widely used in traditional medicine, although its benefits are not proven.
Large specimen Dracaena reflexa ‘Song of Jamaica’ floor plant in Lechuza Classico container
For use as a tropical office plant, the Dracaena reflexa is available in many sizes, from table-top to large floor plants up to 10ft in height. It prefers bright, indirect light, but can tolerate lower light levels. The Dracaena reflexa should not be kept too wet; allow the soil to dry out a bit before watering. The roots will rot easily, so well-drained soil is important. Fertilize monthly during the spring, summer and fall. Prune regularly to keep it tidy and to encourage new growth.
ShareJUN
2015