Plant · GBIF taxon 5304547
Gold-dust Dracaena
Dracaena surculosaAlso known as Spotted Dracaena, Japanese Bamboo
Gold-dust dracaena grows as a slender, bamboo-like understory shrub characterized by thin wiry canes and whorls of glossy, elliptic leaves speckled with creamy yellow or white dots. Clusters of fragrant, nocturnal white flowers open in dense globes before maturing into small, fleshy reddish-orange berries. Adapted to deep rainforest shade, it thrives in low light and has become one of the most widely cultivated ornamental foliage plants worldwide.
HouseplantTropicalVariegated
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
- Spider mites
- Mealybugs
- Scale insects
ThreatsDeforestation and agricultural clearance within native African ranges
HabitatsTropical lowland rainforest understory and gallery forests
Life span10 to 30 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAsparagales
- FamilyAsparagaceae
- GenusDracaena
- SpeciesDracaena surculosa
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Toxic to dogs and cats if ingested; keep potted specimens well out of reach of household pets.
- Why it is dangerous
- Leaves and stems contain steroidal saponins that irritate the digestive tract of pets, triggering drooling, vomiting, weakness, and dilated pupils.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by thin, reed-like green stems supporting oval leaves heavily sprinkled with irregular yellow or white freckles.
- What to do
- Keep out of reach of domestic animals; contact a veterinarian immediately if pets chew or swallow any foliage.
Responsible observation
- Lighting: Provide moderate to bright indirect light to maintain the vibrant yellow leaf spotting.
- Pet Safety: Elevate containers on stands or plant shelves to prevent chewing by cats and dogs.
- Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged to avoid root rot.
Same Genus Cataleirxs / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Same Genus no rights reserved, uploaded by maryury · cc0
Same Genus no rights reserved, uploaded by Ina Siebert · cc0
Same Genus Mokkie / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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