PLNTversePLNTverse
Plants › Indoor trees

Pleomele (Dracaena reflexa)

Dracaena reflexa is a perennial evergreen tropical shrub to small tree with upright growth; its stems may branch sparsely or form multiple trunks, and indoor plants are typically shorter.

LightDracaena reflexa suits bright, indirect light to partial sun, with shade from intense sun; it tolerates lower light, but insufficient light may result in weak, spindly growth.
WaterSources differ on watering details, but describe moderate watering in a well-drained medium, allowing the surface to dry somewhat before watering again and reducing watering in winter; the species also has some tolerance
HumidityDracaena reflexa is reported to prefer high humidity.
TemperatureA limited source reports an ideal temperature of about 18–25 °C and a minimum of about -1.1 °C. It is generally frost tender; keep above freezing. Sources differ on hardiness-zone information, including species-level and
Track your Pleomele in the PLNTverse app
Pleomele illustration

Overview

Dracaena reflexa is a perennial evergreen tropical shrub to small tree with upright growth; its stems may branch sparsely or form multiple trunks, and indoor plants are typically shorter.

Origin and habitat

Dracaena reflexa is native to northeastern Mozambique, Madagascar, and islands of the western Indian Ocean, including Mauritius, Réunion, the Comoros, Seychelles, and Aldabra. It is reported to occur in various forest types, growing in shaded understory conditions and extending new shoots in search of light. It is a tropical plant suited to warm, frost-free or protected environments.

Characteristics

Sources differ, with the few available reports placing mature height at about 400–500 cm; a limited source reports a mature spread of about 10–50 cm. It is reported to grow slowly and has evergreen, simple, narrow to lance-shaped leaves arranged spirally and clustered at branch tips; the species typically has dark green leaves with parallel veins and entire margins, while 'Song of Jamaica' has darker green leaf surfaces with a paler central stripe. Sources differ in describing the small, clustered flowers as white or greenish white to yellow-green; mature plants can flower, and the flowers are described as strongly fragrant, with flowering reported in midwinter. The fruit is a small berry-like fruit, but sources differ in describing its mature color as orange-red or bronze.

Light

Dracaena reflexa suits bright, indirect light to partial sun, with shade from intense sun; it tolerates lower light, but insufficient light may result in weak, spindly growth.

Watering

Sources differ on watering details, but describe moderate watering in a well-drained medium, allowing the surface to dry somewhat before watering again and reducing watering in winter; the species also has some tolerance of less frequent watering.

Humidity and airflow

Dracaena reflexa is reported to prefer high humidity.

Temperature and dormancy

A limited source reports an ideal temperature of about 18–25 °C and a minimum of about -1.1 °C. It is generally frost tender; keep above freezing. Sources differ on hardiness-zone information, including species-level and genus-level accounts.

Growing medium and mounting

Dracaena reflexa suits fertile, well-drained growing media; loamy or sandy soil and peat-free loam-based potting media are described, with acidic, neutral, and alkaline conditions all recorded.

Feeding

Sources differ on feeding frequency, but describe using a balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season.

Propagation

Dracaena reflexa can be propagated from stem cuttings; propagation by seed in spring and by semi-ripe cuttings from late spring to early summer is also recorded.

Common problems

Scale insects may affect Dracaena reflexa, while genus-level information also lists longtailed mealybugs, greenhouse thrips, and fern scale. Insufficient light may cause weak, spindly growth, while tap water containing salts, chlorine, or fluoride may cause brown leaf tips in Dracaena plants. Dracaena reflexa is sensitive to frost and freezing and needs protection in cold regions; it is generally reported to have few diseases.

Identification

Dracaena reflexa is upright and slow-growing, with thick, irregular or multi-branched stems and narrow leaves arranged spirally and densely clustered at the stem tips.

Photos

Dracaena reflexa
📷 No machine-readable author provided. B.navez assumed (based · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Dracaena reflexa
📷 Aris riyanto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Dracaena reflexa
📷 Ong Jyh Seng, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by O · CC BY-SA · source

Sources