African Dragon Tree – Dracaena arborea

General Landscape Uses: Outstanding architectural focal point, vertical accent in narrow spaces, or a high-impact container plant for patios. It is often used to provide a “tropical evergreen” look in xeric (dry) landscapes. Ecological Restoration Notes: Native to the secondary forests of West Africa. It is a hardy pioneer species there, but in the Americas, it is strictly an ornamental. Description: A tree-like succulent with a thick, corky trunk that branches with age. Crowning each branch are dense rosettes of long, sword-shaped, flexible green leaves. Dimensions: Height 10 – 20 ft.; Spread 6 – 10 ft. Growth Rate: Slow to moderate Native Range: West Africa (Guinea to Nigeria and south to Angola) Native Habitats: Tropical thickets, open woodlands, and forest edges Soils: Well-drained, sand, loam Nutritional Requirements: Low Salt Water Tolerance: Low Salt Wind Tolerance: Moderate to high Drought Tolerance: High Light Requirements: Full to part sun Flower Color: Creamy white to pale greenish-yellow Flower Characteristics: Large, branched panicles of small, star-shaped flowers that are highly fragrant, especially at night. Flowering Season: Winter to spring Fruit: Showy, pea-sized berries that turn bright orange or red when ripe Wildlife and Ecology: Flowers attract moths and bees; birds are highly attracted to the colorful berries Horticultural Notes: Grown from cuttings, seed Comments: