Temperature
60–80°F
Keep away from winter window glass and heating vents.
Dragon tree
Dracaena marginata
Dragon tree wants bright indirect light and water every 10 to 18 days, once the top two inches are dry. Toxic to cats and dogs.
Light
Bright indirect
LowMediumBright indirectDirect
Four to six feet back from an east window. In deep shade the red leaf margins fade and the canes stretch.
Water
Every 10–18 days
Baseline for a 6-inch pot indoors. Check first: water when the top two inches are dry, not on a schedule.
Humidity
30% and up
Fine in normal household air. Prefers 45%.
Difficulty
Easy
Scores 2 of 5: Scores 2 of 5: tolerant of low light and infrequent watering. Loses points for browning tips whenever tap water is fluoridated.
Habit
Upright
Grows to 36–96 inches. No support needed.
Toxic to cats and dogs — poison severity low
Contains saponins. Reported signs include vomiting, drooling, loss of appetite.
If a pet has chewed a leaf, rinse the mouth with water and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Full detail for cats → Full detail for dogs →
What each authority says 2 sources concur
- ASPCA
- Toxic to cats and dogs · saponins
- NC State Extension
- Poison severity: Low · Saponins
Light
Bright indirect light. Four to six feet back from an east window. In deep shade the red leaf margins fade and the canes stretch.
Water
Every 10 to 18 days in a 6-inch pot, when the top two inches are dry.
Treat the interval as a starting point and the test as the actual instruction. Pot size, light level and season all move the number.
| Method | soak and dry |
|---|---|
| Test before watering | the top two inches are dry |
Soil and potting
Two parts potting soil, one part perlite.
Repot roughly every 3 years, or when roots come through the drainage holes and water runs straight through without absorbing.
Common problems
Ranked by how often each turns out to be the cause for this species. Each links to a diagnosis page with the causes ranked for this species.
- Brown crispy edges monitor
- Yellow leaves this week
- Leaf drop this week
Pest and disease guidance for this species consulted at the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, checked 2026-09-12.
Pests
Recorded for this species. Each links to identification and treatment.
- Mealybugs this week
- Spider mites act today
Propagation
Stem cutting in water or soil. Roots in 21 to 49 days.
A cutting without a node will not root. It may stay green in water for months and never produce a single root, because it has no growth point.
| Preferred method | stem cutting |
|---|---|
| Medium | water, soil |
| Time to root | 21–49 days |
| Node required | Yes |
| Best season | Spring and summer |
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Dracaena marginata Checked 2026-09-12.
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Dracaena marginata Checked 2026-09-12.
- Wikidata entity Q13539275 — taxonomy and entity identity.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — Dracaena marginata Checked 2026-09-12.
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Dracaena marginata Pest and disease guidance. Checked 2026-09-12.
- Photograph: Forest & Kim Starr, Wikimedia Commons , CC BY 3.0.
Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-02
Tony Valcarcel is the editor and publisher of this database, not a horticulturist
or a veterinarian. Every fact above is drawn from the sources listed, and
toxicity severity is reported only where one of them stated it.
How this is sourced.
Last updated 2026-09-02