Dracaena Varieties

Corn Plant

• Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans) is a common Dracaena variety that grows exceptionally well as a houseplant. Depending on the cultivar, corn plants grow up to 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide, and produce multiple heads and long leaves which resemble sweet-corn leaves. According to the University of Florida IFAS Extension, the Massangeana cultivar makes up 90 percent of the corn plant varieties purchased. Its tan canes grow up to 5 feet tall, and its shiny green leaves have yellow center stripes. Lindenii cultivar leaves have creamy white borders, and Victoria's leaves have gold margins.

Dragon Tree

• The striking dragon tree (Dracaena marginata) grows up to 10 feet tall and produces clusters of 18-inch, dark green leaves with reddish-purple margins. Clemson University Cooperative Extension notes that the stems or canes will train to bend if the plant lies on its side. Although the dragon tree species grows well in low indoor light, its variegated cultivars require bright light due to their low chlorophyll levels. Variegated varieties include Tricolor, which has green leaves with red margins and white central stripes, and Colorama, which has red and white central stripes.

Green Dracaena

• Two popular cultivars, known as Janet Craig and Warneckii, derive from green Dracaena (Dracaena deremensis). Janet Craig, which often grows in office buildings, grows up to 10 feet tall and has shiny, broad, dark green leaves. Bausei is a variegated cultivar with a wide white middle stripe. The Clemson University Cooperative Extension states that Warneckii, which grows up to 4 feet tall, tolerates low light better than most variegated cultivars. Its upright, leathery leaves have grayish green and white stripes.

Other Varieties

• Ribbon plant (Dracaena sanderiana) has twisting stems and green leaves with white margins. Known as the “lucky bamboo” house plant, it is usually growing in water when purchased. According to the University of Illinois Extension, you should transplant a lucky bamboo from water to soil. Gold dust Dracaena (Dracaena godseffiana), which has a shrubby appearance, grows up to 2 1/2 feet tall and produces 5-inch leaves. Yellowish speckles cover young leaves and turn white on older leaves. Dense leaf rosettes cover the flexible stems of the pleomele (Dracaena reflexa) variety.