With its glossy leaves packed in tight spirals up the stems, Dracaena reflexa (dra-SEE-nah ree-FLEKS-uh) is a houseplant with real personality. You may still see it sold under its old name, Pleomele.
The two names are the same plant. Missouri Botanical Garden says Dracaena reflexa is “synonymous with and formerly known as” Pleomele reflexa, and NC State Extension lists Pleomele as one of the older names folded into the genus Dracaena. Both sources place it in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae).
It is a tropical shrub or small tree native to Madagascar, Mauritius and nearby islands in the Indian Ocean, according to Missouri Botanical Garden.
The popular variegated form’s common name, Song of India, is in apparent reference to that Indian Ocean home, Missouri Botanical Garden says. The species was first described by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in 1786, according to the International Plant Names Index.
You will usually find it sold in a few forms:
- Dracaena reflexa: the plain species, with dark green leaves
- Song of India (Dracaena reflexa ‘Variegata’): leaves edged in yellow to lime green that age to creamy margins. See our full Song of India plant guide.
- Song of Jamaica: another D. reflexa cultivar, listed by UF/IFAS alongside ‘Song of India’ and ‘Malaysian Dracaena’.
One more surprise: NC State Extension now lists the familiar Madagascar dragon tree as a narrow-leaved variety of this same species, Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia, and says it was “previously known as” Dracaena marginata. Nurseries and most growers still sell it as Dracaena marginata.
Some other popular Dracaena varieties include:
- Red Edged Dracaena: the Madagascar dragon tree
- Janet Craig Dracaena
- Janet Craig compacta
- Dracaena Warneckii
- Dracaena fragrans
- Mass Cane Plant: Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’ (corn plant)
Dracaena Reflexa Care
Size and Growth
Indoors, this plant stays a manageable size. Missouri Botanical Garden says houseplants typically grow to 3 to 6 feet tall, while plants in the wild may reach 18 feet or more.
Outdoors in Florida, UF/IFAS Extension lists a height of 8 to 15 feet and a spread of 6 to 10 feet, and notes that specimens 15 to 20 feet tall are known in protected landscapes and inside buildings. Growth is slow, according to UF/IFAS.
The leaves are short and narrow. UF/IFAS gives a leaf blade length of 2 to 4 inches, and Missouri Botanical Garden describes dark green, narrow leaves up to 4 to 6 inches long, arranged in whorls around the stem.
As the plant grows taller, the lower leaves die off over time, revealing the stems, according to Missouri Botanical Garden. That is normal. It also says the stems may need staking or other support as they grow taller.
Flowering and Fragrance
Don’t count on flowers indoors. Missouri Botanical Garden says indoor plants infrequently flower and fruit.
When they do, it describes tiny white flowers in clusters that are not particularly showy, sometimes followed by orange-red berries. UF/IFAS lists the flowers as white and summer flowering.
NC State Extension describes dracaena flowers in general as small and fragrant. The flower stalks are often bent downward (reflexed), and Missouri Botanical Garden says that is where the name reflexa comes from.
Light and Temperature
Bright, indirect light is ideal. Missouri Botanical Garden says to protect the plant from direct sun, except for limited early morning sun. In too much shade, plants may grow spindly, and variegated forms like Song of India can lose their variegation.
UF/IFAS takes a slightly sunnier view: it says best growth is in partial sun outdoors or direct light indoors. A bright window spot, shielded from strong direct sun, fits Missouri Botanical Garden’s advice.
This is a warm-room plant: keep it above 60°F. UF/IFAS research on interior dracaenas says keep plants above 60°F at all times, and NC State Extension says dracaenas thrive between 60 and 75°F and need frost protection.
Missouri Botanical Garden sets the bar a little higher: room temperatures should not dip below 65°F, and plants are sensitive to cold and should be protected from drafts.
Outdoors, hardiness depends on the source. UF/IFAS lists USDA zones 10B through 11, and Missouri Botanical Garden lists zones 11 to 12. In cooler areas, grow it indoors.
Humidity matters too. Missouri Botanical Garden says the plant likes high humidity and consistent year-round temperatures. It suggests setting the pot on a bed of wet pebbles and misting the foliage to raise humidity.
NC State Extension notes that brown leaves can result from low humidity or salt buildup in the soil.
Watering and Feeding
Let the top inch of soil dry, then water thoroughly. The top-inch part is NC State Extension’s advice for dracaenas in general. Missouri Botanical Garden recommends keeping the soil uniformly moist but not wet, and warns that leaf tips and margins may brown if the soil gets too wet or too dry.
In practice, that means checking the soil with your finger instead of watering on a schedule.
Soggy soil is the risk to watch. Missouri Botanical Garden says root rot may occur if soils are poorly drained or overwatered, and NC State Extension says root rot can occur if the soil stays overly moist.
Watch your water source, too. NC State Extension says dracaenas are sensitive to tap water containing salts, chlorine and fluoride, which can brown the leaf tips. Use distilled, rain or filtered water: NC State says filtered water or rainwater may help, and its dragon tree page recommends distilled or non-fluorinated water. More on that in our guide to brown leaf tips.
Go light on fertilizer. For the narrow-leaved variety, NC State Extension says the plant has a low fertilizer requirement and suggests a controlled-release formula in spring, summer and fall. Follow the product label for how much to use.
Shop: Jack’s Classic 20-20-20 fertilizer
Soil and Transplanting
Use a well-drained potting mix. Missouri Botanical Garden recommends a loamy, peaty, well-drained potting soil, and NC State Extension calls for a moist, well-drained mix with a slightly acidic pH. Pick a pot with drainage holes so water never sits around the roots.
An all-purpose houseplant potting mix works for most growers. If it stays soggy, add coarse sand to aerate it.
Move the plant to a bigger pot when the roots fill the container. Gently lift it out and check: roots circling the bottom mean it’s time. Then repot it one size up, or plant it in the ground if you live in a frost-free area.
Grooming and Maintenance
Yellow lower leaves are normal as the plant sheds old leaves and exposes the stems. Pull or snip them off once they yellow. If many leaves yellow at once, check the soil: NC State Extension says overwatering can cause yellowing leaves.
Pruning keeps a tall, leggy plant in shape. NC State Extension says that, as houseplants, the narrow-leaved variety can be pruned to a smaller size, and that pruned stems will usually grow two or more branches. Cutting back extra growth gives you a bushier plant.
How To Propagate Dracaena Reflexa
Stem cuttings are the best option. Missouri Botanical Garden says you can propagate the plant with stem cuttings, and NC State Extension says dracaenas in general can be propagated by stem cuttings or rhizome division.
- In spring, cut a few-inch stem tip.
- Dip the base in rooting powder and set it in a pot of moist, sterile potting mix.
- Plant two or three cuttings together for a fuller look.
- Keep the new cuttings out of direct sun while they root.
- Once they are established, move the young plants into brighter light.
Dracaena Reflexa Pest and Disease Problems
Missouri Botanical Garden lists spider mites, scale and mealybugs as the pests to watch for. Mealybugs are one of the most common houseplant pests, and the University of California Statewide IPM Program (UC IPM) names dracaena among the houseplants that often have mealybug problems.
For mealybugs on a houseplant, UC IPM says to hand pick or prune them out, and to remove the whole plant if the infestation is serious. For small infestations, it says you can dab a 70% or less solution of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol in water onto the mealybugs with a cotton swab.
Test the solution on a small part of the plant 1 to 2 days beforehand to make sure it does not burn the leaves. UC IPM adds that insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils and neem oil applied directly to immature mealybugs can reduce numbers.
More on: Controlling Mealybugs on Dracaena
Spider mites like hot, dusty conditions. UC IPM’s spider mite guide says damage is usually most severe in hot, dusty conditions and on water-stressed plants.
If you find them, spray or mist the undersides of the leaves with water, and use insecticidal soap or oil if you need an insecticide. Don’t spray when plants are water-stressed or if it is very hot.
Leaf spot is the disease to know. A Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services plant pathology circular describes a leaf spot of Dracaena and Pleomele caused by the fungus Fusarium moniliforme.
Spores washed down into the leaf whorl infect the tender young leaves, which show tiny yellow specks that grow into reddish-brown spots with a yellow halo. NC State Extension says fungal leaf spot will result if leaves get wet when you water, so water the soil, not the leaves.
Is Dracaena Reflexa Toxic to Pets?
Yes. The ASPCA lists dracaena as toxic to dogs and cats, with saponins as the toxic principle.
The signs it lists are vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, and dilated pupils in cats. NC State Extension also says dracaenas are toxic to cats and dogs if ingested, and that some species have been reported as toxic to humans.
Keep the plant out of reach of pets and small children. If you think your pet has eaten some, the ASPCA says to call ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or your local veterinarian.
Suggested Uses for Dracaena Reflexa
Indoors, it makes a striking floor plant or accent for a bright room. Missouri Botanical Garden says the Song of India form is commonly grown indoors in homes, offices, shopping malls and hotels.
In frost-free areas, UF/IFAS lists it for specimen, border, and accent use, and says that despite its irregular growth habit, it is probably best suited to a formal landscape. It rates drought tolerance as high, but recommends keeping the plant away from direct coastal exposure because it is sensitive to salt spray.
Does It Clean the Air?
Dracaenas often show up on clean-air plant lists. That idea traces to a 1989 NASA study that tested several dracaenas, including ‘Janet Craig’, ‘Warneckii’, corn plant (massangeana) and marginata, in sealed chambers. Dracaena reflexa was not on that list.
The bigger point: Iowa State University Extension says houseplants have little effect on air quality in a home or office, because homes have a constant turnover of air, unlike NASA’s small sealed chambers.
A 2020 review of 12 chamber studies in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology found that matching ordinary building air exchange would take 10 to 1,000 plants per square meter of floor space. Grow this one for its looks.
Conclusion
Dracaena reflexa, or Pleomele, rewards a little attention with years of glossy, spiraling foliage. Give it bright, indirect light; let the top inch of soil dry before watering; keep it above 60°F and out of drafts; and keep it away from curious pets.
Do you grow a Song of India or a plain green reflexa? Tell us how yours is doing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dracaena reflexa the same as Pleomele?
Yes, they are the same plant. Missouri Botanical Garden says Dracaena reflexa is synonymous with and formerly known as Pleomele reflexa, and NC State Extension lists Pleomele as one of the older names now folded into the genus Dracaena. You will still see Pleomele on plant tags, and Missouri Botanical Garden gives the variegated form the common name Song of India.
How tall does Dracaena reflexa get indoors?
Indoors, expect it to reach about 3 to 6 feet. Missouri Botanical Garden says houseplants typically grow 3 to 6 feet tall, while plants in the wild may reach 18 feet or more. In frost-free landscapes, UF/IFAS Extension lists 8 to 15 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide. It grows slowly, and the stems may need staking as they get taller.
Why are my Dracaena reflexa’s leaf tips turning brown?
Several things can brown the tips. Missouri Botanical Garden says leaf tips and margins may brown if the soil becomes too wet or too dry. NC State Extension says dracaenas are sensitive to salts, chlorine and fluoride in tap water, and that low humidity or salt buildup in the soil can brown leaves. Use distilled, rain or filtered water. More in our guide to brown leaf tips.
Is Dracaena reflexa toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. The ASPCA lists dracaena as toxic to dogs and cats because of saponins. Signs include vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, and dilated pupils in cats. NC State Extension agrees that dracaenas are toxic to cats and dogs if eaten. Keep the plant out of reach and call ASPCA Poison Control or your veterinarian if a pet chews it.
How do you propagate Dracaena reflexa?
Use stem cuttings. Missouri Botanical Garden says you can propagate the plant with stem cuttings, and NC State Extension says dracaenas in general can be propagated by stem cuttings or rhizome division. The propagation section above walks through taking and rooting a stem-tip cutting.