During our Demonstration Garden Open House event held off Harbor View Road on October 11th, I was able to get back into the parking lot of our old office. A plant that had been installed by a Master Gardener Volunteer over six years ago caught my eye. While starting out barely eighteen inches tall, this plant was now about six feet in height. This plant was the ‘Song-of-India’, a type of Reflexed Dracaena. There are many cultivars of Reflexed Dracaena available, but perhaps one of the most eye-catching types is ‘Song-of-India’. This variety is beautifully variegated and brings a tropical flair to the landscape.
Former houseplants from the north can often find their way outside in our landscapes here in Southwest Florida. One of those is the ‘Song-of-India’ Reflexed Dracaena which is considered an ornamental evergreen multi-stemmed shrub sometimes obtaining small tree size. To start, it is a bit cold sensitive and will not appreciate temperatures below thirty-four degrees Fahrenheit. As such, it is best to grow this plant in the warmer areas of Charlotte County or in identified microclimates. Otherwise, be prepared to cover it for protection or have it in a container that can be moved under cover indoors when needed. It does make a great patio, lanai, or indoor plant in a large container. Larger containers can even be put on platforms with wheels for easy moving. The ‘Song-of-India’ can grow unpruned to over eight feet tall with irregular, multi-stemmed branches, and somewhat slow growth. Each leaf is four to six inches long with interesting variegation. Young leaves start out green with distinct yellow margins. As the leaves age, the darker green portion becomes lighter, and the margins blend in with a creamy color and more stripes. The leaves are arranged in an attractive spiral pattern up the stem. As the leaves age out and drop, the stem is bare and attractively patterned with the remains of the leaf scares. At maturity, the ‘Song-of-India’ will actually produce a panicle of flowers consisting of small green to yellow, almost inconspicuous blossoms. For a slightly different color pattern, try ‘Song-of-Jamaica’, a cultivar with stripes of darker and lighter green variegation.
Although the ‘Song-of-India’ I rediscovered at our old office was growing mostly in full sun – if used in a formal tropical landscape – this Dracaena will do best in a part-sun to bright filtered light location. Although very drought-tolerant, ‘Song-of-India’ is not salt-tolerant. As a container grown plant, step it up into continuously larger pots as it grows using a sterile potting medium with good drainage.
Propagation is very easy using cuttings. Cuttings are a great way to share this plant with friends and neighbors as a pass-along plant. The ‘Song-of-India’ can be considered pest-free and a very sustainable plant – it will be a delightful addition to any plant collection! For more information on all types of plants suitable for both landscapes and containers, or to ask a question, you can also call the Master Gardener Volunteer Helpdesk on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer. Ralph E. Mitchell is the Director/Horticulture Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County. He can be reached at 941-764-4344 or ralph.mitchell@charlottecountyfl.gov. Connect with us on social media. Like us on Facebook @CharlotteCountyExtension and follow us on Instagram @ifascharco.
Resources:
Brown, S. H. ( 2013) Dracaena reflexa ‘Song-of India’. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS – Lee County.
Gilman, E. F., Klein, R. W. & Hansen, G. (2023) Dracaena reflexa Reflexed Dracaena. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
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