January houseplant of the month: Dracaena

Dracaena is a tall, voluminous houseplant or tree with one or more trunks, from which fabulous leaves grow in green, yellow and gold, sometimes with some pink or red. There are many types of leaf: small, delicate and pointy or large and soft. The choice of trunks is also varied: thick, thin, tall, branched and woven. In terms of size, it ranges from a houseplant to an indoor tree, all with a beautiful tropical look. As a statement plant, Dracaena is easy to look after. The plant stores water in the trunk, and can cope if you forget to water it occasionally. The plant also helps keep the air indoors clean. According to the NASA Clean Air Study, Dracaena is one of the plants that helps improve the quality of the air in your home.

Source: Thejoyofplants.co.uk

Origin
In the wild, Dracaena grows particularly in Africa and adjacent islands such as Madeira, the Canary Islands and the Cape Verde Islands. There are varieties that really do resemble a tree with a trunk, but there are also robust bushy forms which are used as hedges and dividers in hot countries. They can live for a long time, and some species develop a very distinctive shape in the wild which seems to come straight out of primaeval times.

Range
Dracaena offers a wide choice of around 80 species and cultivars in various forms. Hence there are plants with a single stem, top cutting, tuft (several plants of one species in a single pot), Ti plant (double-headed plant), branched or woven trunk, plant with underplanting, stump, etc. Dracaena also offers various leaf shapes from narrow to broad and colours from yellow to dark red.

Sales and display tips for Dracaena
Dracaena fits well with the popular interiors trend for creating a green atmosphere with botanicals. Create a lively display by mixing various varieties and sizes of Dracaena together. The tropical look is reinforced by pots made of wood or ceramic with a bark motif, supplemented with some exotic accessories.

For more information:
Thejoyofplants.co.uk