Dracaena draco

Dracaena draco, or Dragon Tree, is an attractive and an interesting succulent tree that is commonly used as a house plant, but if planted in ground in or near frost free climates will grow to a massive and broad tree 25 feet tall and wide. With great age they can grow to over 70 feet tall. The terminal ends of the thick branches hold clusters of 2 foot long by 1 1/2 inch wide pliable sword-shaped blue-green leaves. In early summer appear the greenish white flowers that are followed by orange berries. This plant remains unbranched until it flowers or is otherwise damaged and then produces two large heavy branches on either side of the inflorescence. When the bark is cut or bruised the sap flows as a reddish colored resin. This resin known as Dragon's Blood, can be used to stain wood. It will grow in full sun or part shade. Water infrequently and deeply - do not allow the root zone to remain wet as this is the easiest way to kill this plant. It is hardy to about 20-25 degrees F. Our plants come directly from seed collected from the specimen called "El Drago Milenario" (the thousand-year-old dragon) growing at Icod de los Vinos in northwest Tenerife Canary Islands which is the largest and the oldest living plant of this species. Its age was estimated in 1975 to be around 250 - 365years old!