'''Dracaena marginata''' (Madagascar Dragon Tree or Red Edged Dracaena) is a
flowering plant in the family
Ruscaceae, native to
Madagascar. It is a slow-growing
shrub or small
tree, eventually reaching heights of 2-5 m. The
leaves are linear, 30-90 cm long and 2-7 cm broad, tapering to an acuminate point.
Cultivation and uses
It is a popular
houseplant, with several
cultivars available with the leaves
variegated with red or pale yellow. It requires a minimum temperature of 15 °C (59 °F), and is more tolerant than most plants of dry soil and irregular watering, though liable to root decay in permanently wet soil. Because it requires minimal care it is very popular in offices where the constant heat and light suits their growing requirements.
It has been widely confused with other species of ''
Dracaena'', and many or most of the plants in cultivation under this name may actually be ''
D. cincta'' or ''
D. concinna'' (Huxley 1992).
It is one of the plants used in the
NASA Clean Air Study and has shown to help remove
formaldehyde.
Most styles for these plants are made in a braided form.
References
★ Huxley, A. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening'' 2: 96-97. Macmillan.