Dragon's blood from the Dracaena Cinnabari of Socotra

Mother Nature always surprises us. In the case of trees, there is one in particular that has a very peculiar name: the dragon's blood tree (dracaena cinnabari). It owes its name to the resin that, remarkably, is red in color. Incredible but true. It is a beautiful play of nature. The resin that comes from, for example, the bark or leaves of this magical tree turns red when it comes into contact with oxygen.

There are several legends that talk about the dragon's blood tree, often referring to dragon's blood and the role it plays. The Garden of the Hesperides is a lovely legend that tells of the blood of Ladon falling to the ground after being struck by a sword. The blood fell to the ground, and beautiful trees emerged from it.

Dracaena Cinnabari

The Dragon's Blood Tree or Dragon Tree of Socotra is also known by the scientific name Dracaena cinnabari and belongs to the Asparagaceae family. It is native to the island of Socotra, where it lives at an altitude of 1600 meters above sea level. It grows slowly and can reach a height of 10 meters. The leaves, which are vertical, thin, and stiff, remain green throughout the year. The branches grow in such a way that they, along with the leaves, form a half-sphere. The trunk is thick, about 30-40 cm in diameter, with a more or less conical shape. It blooms beautifully and abundantly in spring and summer.

Dragon's Blood

These dragon's blood trees have the peculiarity that their resin is red. This resin is also known as dragon's blood. The resin was already used in ancient times for medicinal purposes and is still used in traditional medicine today. The red resin (dragon's blood) is even very useful as a dye. In the past, the Stradivarius violin was colored with this resin. The "dragon's blood" is harvested once a year and therefore has a high market value. It is heated on-site to make a black paste syrup.

The Socotra Dragon's Blood Tree, as it is also called, is a highly sought-after plant for gardens. Unfortunately, it is starting to have a tough time in its natural habitat. Not due to the extraction of the resin, but because of an increasingly drying climate. These plants can withstand long periods of drought, but they cannot live forever without water. It is therefore not surprising that this dragon's blood tree is difficult to obtain and is highly protected.

If you want to enjoy the Dragon's Blood Tree in your specific green corner or even your living room, it is best to place it in an area with direct sunlight and well-draining soil. In our climate, it is not advisable to plant it in the ground. Frost and the dragon's blood tree are not good friends. Plant the dragon's blood tree in a pot with a very porous substrate (for example, potting soil mixed with perlite and pumice in equal parts). Water it weekly, except in winter, when you can water every 10-15 days.

Voir l'article entier