Plant Profile: Dracaena sanderiana

Names

Chinese Water Bamboo, Friendship Bamboo, Lucky Bamboo, Ribbon Plant, Water Bamboo

  • Photo of Dracaena sanderiana (Dracaena sanderianas)

Phonetic Spelling:dra-SEE-nah san-der-ree-AY-na

Genus:Dracaena

Species:sanderana

Family:Asparagaceae

This Dracaena may resemble bamboo, yet it is not a true bamboo species. It is commonly cultivated as a houseplant in regions outside the tropical zone. This plant thrives in containers placed in partial shade outdoors or in bright, indirect light indoors. It prefers consistently moist soil but can also be grown in chlorine-free water; just remember to change the water weekly and apply a diluted liquid fertilizer. The plant features vibrant green, strap-like leaves that are spaced apart along its upright stems, creating a light and airy look. The stems can be shaped in various forms, making it a favorite in Feng Shui practices. However, it seldom flowers when kept as a houseplant.

Dracaena sanderiana Feature Summary

Dracaena sanderiana Image Gallery

Tags

#houseplant
#green
#shade tolerant
#interiorscape
#bamboo
#hydrophonics
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#tropical feel
#container plants

Similar Plants

Dracaena sanderiana Feature Summary

Attributes
West Central Tropical Africa to North East Angola
Perennial
Flowers
Rarely blooms as a house plant.
Leaves
Bright green strappy leaves are widely spaced along the upright stems
Lanceolate
Stem
Thick green stem resembling bamboo.
Poisonous to Humans
Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats).
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Occasionally Wet
Coastal
Landscape
Container
Houseplants
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs

Dracaena sanderiana Attributes

Dracaena sanderiana: Country Or Region Of Origin

West Central Tropical Africa to North East Angola

Dracaena sanderiana: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Dracaena sanderiana: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Dracaena sanderiana Flowers

Dracaena sanderiana: Flower Description

Rarely blooms as a house plant.

Dracaena sanderiana: Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Dracaena sanderiana: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Dracaena sanderiana Leaves

Dracaena sanderiana: Leaf Description

Bright green strappy leaves are widely spaced along the upright stems

Dracaena sanderiana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Dracaena sanderiana: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Dracaena sanderiana: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Dracaena sanderiana: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Dracaena sanderiana: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Dracaena sanderiana: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Dracaena sanderiana Stem

Dracaena sanderiana: Stem Description

Thick green stem resembling bamboo.

Dracaena sanderiana: Stem Color

grass
Green

Dracaena sanderiana: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Dracaena sanderiana Poisonous to Humans

Dracaena sanderiana: Poison Symptoms

Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats).

Dracaena sanderiana: Poison Toxic Principle

Saponins

Dracaena sanderiana: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Dracaena sanderiana: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Dracaena sanderiana Whole Plant Traits

Dracaena sanderiana: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Dracaena sanderiana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Dracaena sanderiana: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Dracaena sanderiana: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Dracaena sanderiana: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Dracaena sanderiana: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Dracaena sanderiana Cultural Conditions

Dracaena sanderiana: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Dracaena sanderiana: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Dracaena sanderiana: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Dracaena sanderiana: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b

Dracaena sanderiana Landscape

Dracaena sanderiana: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Dracaena sanderiana: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy