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viper's bowstring hemp (Dracaena trifasciata)

Dracaena trifasciata is an evergreen, perennial, succulent foliage plant with rhizomes, a clumping habit, no obvious above-ground stem, and leaves growing in basal rosettes; 'Golden Hahnii' is a dwarf rosette-form cultivar.

LightBright light or part shade is preferred, although the plant tolerates low light; in greenhouse cultivation, bright diffused light is suitable and strong full summer sun should be avoided.
WaterIt tolerates drought and needs well-drained growing medium; from spring through autumn, water after the potting medium dries, while in winter watering should be greatly reduced or the medium kept dry, as overwatering rea
TemperatureA single source reports a minimum temperature of about 10 °C. It is generally classified as RHS H1C and rests in winter.
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Overview

Dracaena trifasciata is an evergreen, perennial, succulent foliage plant with rhizomes, a clumping habit, no obvious above-ground stem, and leaves growing in basal rosettes; 'Golden Hahnii' is a dwarf rosette-form cultivar.

Origin and habitat

Sources differ on the native range, placing it in Africa and mainly indicating tropical to central Africa, from Nigeria toward the Congo region. Its native habitat is reported to include dry regions of Africa. It is adapted to warm tropical environments that can have a distinct dry season, uses CAM metabolism, tolerates drought, and does not tolerate low temperatures or prolonged wet conditions.

Characteristics

Sources differ on mature height, placing it at about 20–25 cm; a single source reports a mature spread of about 10–50 cm. The firm, succulent leaves store water; Hahnii forms have short, overlapping leaves forming a distinct rosette, while 'Golden Hahnii' has extensive yellow longitudinal variegation and the species commonly has dark-green and gray-green transverse bands. The flowers are small and tubular, ranging from pale greenish white to creamy white, and may be fragrant and sticky; flowering is rare in indoor cultivation. Sources differ on flowering season: RHS reports possible flowering in summer or autumn, while NC State describes winter flowering in the native environment.

Light

Bright light or part shade is preferred, although the plant tolerates low light; in greenhouse cultivation, bright diffused light is suitable and strong full summer sun should be avoided.

Watering

It tolerates drought and needs well-drained growing medium; from spring through autumn, water after the potting medium dries, while in winter watering should be greatly reduced or the medium kept dry, as overwatering readily causes root rot.

Temperature and dormancy

A single source reports a minimum temperature of about 10 °C. It is generally classified as RHS H1C and rests in winter.

Growing medium and mounting

Use a well-drained loamy or sandy growing medium; a potting mix based on small-grained akadama and small-grained pumice is described, and neutral to alkaline conditions are suitable. It needs a fast-draining mix and is prone to rot.

Feeding

A single source reports feeding during the spring-to-autumn growing period with either slow-release chemical fertilizer or liquid fertilizer applied regularly.

Propagation

It can be propagated by division, offsets, or leaf cuttings; for variegated cultivars, division is more suitable for retaining variegation because leaf cuttings may lose the variegated characteristics.

Common problems

Possible pests include scale insects, aphids, thrips, long-tailed mealybugs, and weevils. Damping-off may occur, and excessively wet conditions or poor drainage can readily lead to root rot. Low light may cause weak leaves, and propagation of variegated plants by leaf cuttings may result in loss of the original variegation. The plant tolerates dry and hot conditions but is sensitive to low temperatures and excessive winter moisture; cold damage can cause leaves to collapse and die back.

Identification

The cultivar is distinguished by its dwarf, compact, bird's-nest-like rosette form and extensive yellow longitudinal leaf variegation compared with green-leaved Hahnii; new rosettes arise from rhizomes.

Photos

Dracaena trifasciata
📷 Mlogic · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Sources