Song of India
Dracaena reflexa
An evergreen shrub featuring slender, twisting stems and glossy, spiral-arranged leaves with striking creamy-white to yellow margins along the dark green blades.
- Light
- Bright, indirect sunlight for about 6 to 8 hours daily; avoid direct harsh afternoon sun which can scorch the leaves.
- Water
- Water thoroughly when the top 2-3 inches of soil become dry. Reduce watering frequency during the winter months. Avoid overwatering to prevent root decay.
- Growth
- Perennial shrub with an upright, branching growth habit reaching mature indoor heights of 3 to 6 feet with a slow to moderate growth rate.
Care instructions
Provide bright indirect sunlight, allow the top couple of inches of soil to dry out between waterings, use well-draining potting mix, and feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during the spring and summer growing season.
Growing details
Sunlight
Bright, indirect sunlight for about 6 to 8 hours daily; avoid direct harsh afternoon sun which can scorch the leaves.
Watering
Water thoroughly when the top 2-3 inches of soil become dry. Reduce watering frequency during the winter months. Avoid overwatering to prevent root decay.
Soil
Well-draining, peat-based potting mix with good aeration, maintaining a slightly acidic to neutral pH range of 6.0 to 6.5.
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 10 to 11, grown primarily as an indoor houseplant in cooler temperate climates.
Growth habit
Perennial shrub with an upright, branching growth habit reaching mature indoor heights of 3 to 6 feet with a slow to moderate growth rate.
Bloom season
Rarely blooms indoors; produces small, clustered white flowers followed by round yellow-orange berries when grown in optimal tropical outdoor environments.
Propagation
Propagated easily through stem cuttings taken in spring or summer, rooted either in moist potting medium or water.
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to spider mites and mealybugs. Overwatering causes root rot, while dry indoor air or fluoride in tap water can cause brown leaf tips.
Similar species
Dracaena fragrans (Corn Plant), which features broader, solid green or wider striped leaves with a more rigid cane structure compared to the spiraling, narrower leaves of Dracaena reflexa.