Dracaenas beautify homes and cleanse the air

Very quietly, Dracaena plants have been increasing in popularity for decades and now occupy prominent positions in our homes and landscapes. The genus Dracaena (sometimes spelled Dracena) is derived from the Greek word for a female dragon — drakaina — and its members are related to ponytail trees, snake plants and mondo grass.

Ranging from Mexico to Madagascar, the 80 or so species of Dracaena are largely drought tolerant, moderately hardy plants that grow on well-drained sites in sun or shade. Dracaenas commonly seen outdoors in Central Florida include D. marginata and its variety ‘Tricolor,’ up to 12 feet tall, and two species up to 20 feet: D. fragrans (corn plant) and varieties of D. reflexa, including ‘Song of India.’ These Dracaenas are also widely used as houseplants.

Perhaps the most ubiquitous Dracaena is D. sanderiana, ridiculously marketed as ‘’lucky bamboo.’’ Often sold in braided form and stuck in vases of water, these unfortunate plants demonstrate the adaptability and tenacity of the genus. When provided with reasonable treatment, including soil and filtered light, D. sanderiana — ribbon plant — can grow 10 feet tall and feature 9-inch leaves. Though mostly cultivated indoors, this attractively striped West African plant thrives in sheltered locations in the garden. Like all Dracaenas, propagation is easy with large stem cuttings which, when outdoors plants are concerned, can be stuck where they’re to be grown permanently.

Most Dracaenas, however, spend their lives perched on living-room end tables and office desks, tolerating dim light, dry air and haphazard irrigation. Despite this hostile environment, these perky plants manage to look fresh and help purify the air: NASA researchers found Dracaenas to be among the best plants for removing formaldehyde and other airborne toxins.

Among Dracaenas widely used for interiorscaping are varieties of D. deremensis, including ‘Lemon Lime,’ a plant that can grow 5 to 10 feet tall and develop 2-foot-long leaves featuring two shades of green accented with white striping. Similar, but with somewhat shorter, ruffle-edged leaves is ‘Lemon Surprise.’ An older but still popular variety of D. deremensis is ‘Warneckii,’ while a recently introduced hybrid is ‘Rikki,’ with dark green and yellow foliage.

Perhaps the toughest varieties of D. deremensis are ‘Janet Craig’ and ‘Janet Craig Compacta,’ renowned for their tolerance of low light levels and for a presence that lends itself to any indoor setting. Another super-durable Dracaena is ‘Jade Jewel,’ a variety of D. fragrans with green and white leaves.

Charles Reynolds, a Winter Haven resident, has an associate’s degree in horticulture and is a member of Garden Writers Association of America.