• Photo of Dracaena surculosa (Dracaena surculosas)

Plant Profile: Dracaena surculosa

Taxonomy: Dracaena surculosa

Names

Dracena, Florida Beauty, Gold Dust, Gold Dust Dracaena, Spotted Dracaena

  • Photo of Dracaena surculosa (Dracaena surculosas)

Phonetic Spelling:dra-SEE-nah sur-ku-LO-sa

Genus:Dracaena

Species:surculosa

Family:Asparagaceae

This slow-growing evergreen is often cultivated indoors due to its beautiful variegated leaves and tropical appearance. Its slender branches bear dark green leaves adorned with cream-colored spots, while new growth emerges as tightly rolled cones. To encourage fresh growth and maintain the desired height, it's advisable to periodically trim back older stems.

Dracaena thrives in bright, indirect light; however, exposure to too much or too little light can cause the leaves to brown or fall off. During the active growing season, keep the soil consistently moist, but reduce watering in the winter months. It's important not to use a pot that is too large, as this plant prefers to be snug in its container. Additionally, it benefits from humidity, which can be achieved through misting or by placing it on a pebble tray filled with water.

Be aware that root mealybugs can hinder its growth.

Dracaena surculosa Feature Summary

Dracaena surculosa Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#poisonous
#houseplant
#white flowers
#shade tolerant
#showy leaves
#spotted
#not pet friendly
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#tropical feel
#container plants

Similar Plants

Dracaena surculosa Feature Summary

Attributes
Fruit
fruits are globose berries of about 1/2 inch in diameter of a reddish-orange color. Doesn't flower or have berries as a house plant.
Red/Burgundy
Orange
Flowers
2.5-3-inch long blooms with small white flowers, pleasantly fragrant during the night. It doesn't flower as a house plant.
1-3 inches
Leaves
3-inch leaves are dark green with spots of cream. New leaves appear as tightly rolled cones
Green
White
Variegated
Elliptical
3-6 inches
Showy
Long-lasting
1-3 inches
Poisonous to Humans
Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats)
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Sap/Juice
Flowers
Bark
Fruits
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Good Drainage
Landscape
Container
Houseplants
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs

Dracaena surculosa Attributes

Dracaena surculosa: Country Or Region Of Origin

West Tropical Africa

Dracaena surculosa: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Dracaena surculosa: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Dracaena surculosa Fruit

Dracaena surculosa: Fruit Description

fruits are globose berries of about 1/2 inch in diameter of a reddish-orange color. Doesn't flower or have berries as a house plant.

Dracaena surculosa: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Dracaena surculosa: Fruit Color

grass
Orange
grass
Red/Burgundy

Dracaena surculosa: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Dracaena surculosa Flowers

Dracaena surculosa: Flower Description

2.5-3-inch long blooms with small white flowers, pleasantly fragrant during the night. It doesn't flower as a house plant.

Dracaena surculosa: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Dracaena surculosa: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Dracaena surculosa Leaves

Dracaena surculosa: Leaf Description

3-inch leaves are dark green with spots of cream. New leaves appear as tightly rolled cones

Dracaena surculosa: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Dracaena surculosa: Leaf Color

spa
Green
spa
Variegated
spa
White

Dracaena surculosa: Leaf Type

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

Dracaena surculosa: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Dracaena surculosa: 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 surculosa: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Dracaena surculosa: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Dracaena surculosa: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Dracaena surculosa: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Dracaena surculosa: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Dracaena surculosa Poisonous to Humans

Dracaena surculosa: Poison Symptoms

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

Dracaena surculosa: Poison Toxic Principle

Saponins

Dracaena surculosa: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Dracaena surculosa: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Dracaena surculosa: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Dracaena surculosa Whole Plant Traits

Dracaena surculosa: 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 surculosa: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Dracaena surculosa: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Dracaena surculosa: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Dracaena surculosa Cultural Conditions

Dracaena surculosa: 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 surculosa: Soil Drainage

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

Dracaena surculosa: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b
thermostat
9a

Dracaena surculosa Stem

Dracaena surculosa: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Dracaena surculosa Landscape

Dracaena surculosa: 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 surculosa: 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