Family: Asparagaceae
Common name: Dragon tree, Canary Islands dragon tree, Drago, Dragon’s blood plant, Corn plant, Ribbon plant
Dragon Tree is a very unique, interesting, ancient species of plants native to the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, and Morocco.
They are well-known for their umbrella-like canopy and the red resin that oozes out when parts of the plant are cut, giving the tree its name ‘Dragon blood tree’.
Tree characteristics
They are very slow-growers but can reach a height of 10-15 m with stout trunk about 5 m in diameter. The tree has a very interesting growth pattern. After growing for 10-15 years, the trunk stops growing and produces bunches of white, perfumed flowers and fruits.
After this, the trunk produces terminal branches that grow outwards. After growing for 10-15 years, these branches again re-branch, giving the plant an umbrella-like crown.
Leaves are thin, elongated, and stiff up to 60 cm in length. These dark green, glossy leaves along with the stout trunk gives the tree an other-worldly appearance like the tree was built as part of a kindergarten project with stout trunks made of play doh and leaves cut out of craft paper.
The dragon tree flowers in summer producing large clusters of creamy-white flowers, each of them about 1-1.5 cm in diameter with a subtle fragrance.
After flowering, the tree produces small orange-red berries that are 1-2 cm in diameter containing a single seed.
Gardening Tips
Dragon trees can grow in full sun or partial shade, and are very drought-tolerant. They should be watered only once a week when the soil is properly dry, as they cannot stand overwatering.
Fertilization is needed only during the growing season, once a year or even lesser. Pruning needs to be done only when a branch is ruined or rotted. The name of the plant comes from the Greek word drakaina or ‘female dragon’ because of the red resin that oozes out of the stem when it’s cut.
Uses
The red dye obtained from the Dragon tree has medicinal uses in healing wounds. They were also used in cultural rituals, and as a dye. Dragon trees are well known for their longevity living for hundreds of years.
One of the specimens in Tenerife, South America is said to have lived for over 6000 years before it was destroyed in a storm in 1868. The Dragon trees have distinct growth rings along the trunks which can help estimate the age of the tree.
Propagation is through seeds and stem cuttings, both of which can take time to grow.
Photographed at: Bangalore airport, Terminal 2
