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Dragon Tree “Cintho”

Latin name

Dracaena fragrans “Cintho”

Pronounciation

(“drah-SEE-nah FRAY-grans “SINTH-oh””)

Common name

Dragon Tree Cintho

Origin

Dracaena fragrans is found throughout equatorial Africa from Tanzania to Ivory Coast

How easy am I to care for?

Buy one of my cousins from the nursery:

Dracaena fragrans, or Dragon Tree Cintho, is a shrub with leaves forming as rosettes on stems and at the tip of the plant. It has very long sword-shaped leaves. The variety “Cintho” has attractively variegated foliage with fine yellow stripes along the centres of the leaves (the reverse of the pattern of variegation found on the variety “Golden Coast”). The Dragon Tree makes a perfect floor-standing houseplant for your home.

In the wild, they can grow up to 3m, in height, and are sometimes used for hedging. As houseplants, they are typically much smaller. Dracaena fragrans is notable for its highly scented flowers (hence ‘fragrans’, meaning fragrant), and you may be lucky to get flowers on yours. They’re not especially attractive, but have a delightful smell.

Caring for your plant

Light

Medium – high

Watering

Low – medium. Allow the soil to dry out a little between watering

Pruning

If the plant gets too leggy, you can remove the top part of the plant (and propagate that by planting in some soil – it will root quite readily). Dormant buds from lower down the stem will then break and new clusters of leaves will form, ultimately creating a new branch

Feeding

Heavy doses of fertilizer can be harmful. A weak solution of fertilizer added to the water at each watering would ensure that essential nutrients are given, without risking giving too much

Pest & Diseases

Largely pest free, but keep an eye open for mealybugs, which might hide in the leaf bases and underneath the leaves. They are best controlled by physical removal and cleaning the leaves with a damp cloth or paper towel. Dracaenas can be prone to leaf damage caused by a build up of soluble salts found in some tap water or if fertilizer is too strong. Characteristic black lesions along leaf margins and tips are good indicators.

Mill Pond Nurseries,
Mill Road,
Henham,
CM22 6AA

T: 0345 505 3333
E: enquiries@planteriagroup.com

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