Dragon Blood Tree, top 7 most common mistakes when purchasing

Do you have the real Dragon Blood Tree?

On the internet and at many garden centers, many Dracaenas are referred to as the Dragon Blood Tree. In many cases, this is not correct and it is a clever marketing trick; it is a dracaena marginata or dracaena draco type of Dracaena. When purchasing your dragon blood tree, pay attention to the Latin name: Dracaena Draco.

Be cautious with Dracaena Cinnabari's

If the Dracaena Cinnabari is for sale at a garden center or online, ask where it comes from. This type of Dragon Blood Tree is only found on the island of Socotra (Yemen), is protected, and must not be exported. You are likely dealing with a different species of Dracaena. Soon, I will have a few specimens of the Dracaena Cinnabari available from a supplier who has grown them from seed.

Beware of Dragon Blood Tree seeds

At tourist destinations, seeds of native plants/flowers and trees are often offered for sale. Usually, 1 or 2 seeds are placed in a package. The Dragon Blood Tree is also sold this way. Be careful! Often, the seeds are years old, you don't know what quality you are buying, and you often pay too much for the seeds.

Keep the Dragon Blood Tree outside all year round

The Dracaena Draco is a beautiful ornamental tree, and therefore people often want to place it in the garden throughout the year. The dragon blood tree is a subtropical plant and can only withstand a little frost. If you want to enjoy the tree all year round, place it in a pot and move it indoors during the winter. In the spring, it can easily go back outside. Of course, it can also thrive as a houseplant indoors all year round.

Directly in full sun after winter

People often think that the dragon blood tree can be placed directly in full sun because it also stands in full sun on the Canary Islands. Since the dragon blood tree goes from indoors to outdoors in our climate—with the changing seasons—the leaves need to acclimate to the sunlight intensity; otherwise, they will burn. This can be easily managed by placing the tree in partial shade in the spring and gradually providing more sunlight by moving it each day.

In a large pot, it can grow nicely

A common mistake when repotting the Dragon Blood Tree is repotting it in a pot that is too large. The risk is a long, thin tree with a weak trunk. If you want a compact, sturdy tree with beautiful leaves, it is wise to wait until the roots come out of the pot and then place it in a pot that is about 1.5 times larger.

Give it plenty of water

Plants and trees need water to grow. We want our tree to look beautiful, and we often give it too much water. Be careful not to overwater the Dragon Blood Tree. The Dragon Blood Tree hates 'wet feet.' In fact, this is one of the easiest trees to care for. Water the tree regularly in well-draining soil, and you will have a tree for life.

Threatened with extinction

Unfortunately, the Dragon Blood Tree is threatened with extinction. Most are no longer available. But the Dracaena Draco still is. Due to my passion for the Dragon Blood Tree, I have started to cultivate them myself, thus contributing to their protection. Are you looking for a special, magical, and unique tree/plant (a piece of art) for your living room? Then you can easily order one from me via the shop.

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