Plant · GBIF taxon 5304436
Song of India
Dracaena reflexaAlso known as Pleomele, Reflexed Dracaena, Narrow-Leaved Pleomele
Song of India produces spirally arranged, lance-shaped leaves with striking yellow margins that arch gracefully along thick woody stems. In its native Indian Ocean coastal forests, this evergreen shrub grows into a multi-stemmed small tree bearing clusters of fragrant white blossoms that open at night. Widely cultivated around the globe, it serves as an air-purifying plant that thrives in warm, humid conditions with bright indirect light.
EvergreenHouseplantTropical
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthetic
Predators
- Mealybugs
- Spider mites
- Scale insects
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation in native range, indoor pest infestations
HabitatsTropical evergreen forests, coastal thickets, indoor landscapes
Life span20–50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAsparagales
- FamilyAsparagaceae
- GenusDracaena
- SpeciesDracaena reflexa
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Toxic to cats and dogs if ingested; place out of reach of household pets.
- Why it is dangerous
- Leaves contain steric saponins that induce hypersalivation, vomiting, dilated pupils, and weakness in cats and dogs.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for lance-shaped leaves with broad golden-yellow margins spiraling tightly along woody stems.
- What to do
- Keep indoor pots elevated away from curious pets and promptly discard any fallen foliage.
Responsible observation
- Light Needs: Place in bright, indirect sunlight to maintain the vibrant yellow leaf margins.
- Watering: Allow the top few centimeters of soil to dry out completely between waterings.
- Pruning: Cut back leggy stems to encourage bushier foliage and propagate from stem cuttings.
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