Do you have a Dracaena plant and are exploring to find its name? If Dracaena identification is your challenge, here is a comprehensive collection of Dracaena species and varieties with their pictures. Join me in this post to identify your Dracaena plant easily because I compare them with their important characters in tables.
Please don’t waste time and let’s start our journey to the world of Dracaena plants.
Dracaena Identification: Dracaena Species
There are about 170 species in the Dracaena genus. They belong to the asparagus family and are native to Central America, South Asia, Africa, and northern Australia. In this part, I will introduce 9 common dracaena species including:
- Dracaena marginata
- Dracaena fragrans
- Dracaena reflexa
- Dracaena trifasciata
- Dracaena sanderiana
- Dracaena surculose
- Dracaena goldieana
- Dracaena arborea
- Dracaena indivisa
most of them are common indoor plants. To make dracaena identification easy for you, I compare the appearance of these species based on their leaf shape, colouration, and growth form in the following table. Please note that the only general characteristics are mentioned in the below table. Most of these dracaena species have several different varieties. You can find different dracaena varieties with pictures in the next part.
| D. Marginata | D. Fragrans | D. Reflexa | D. Trifasciata | D. Sanderiana | D. Surculosa | D. Goldieana | D. Arborea | D. Indivisa | |
| Leaf Shape | Long, slender | Large, arching | Long, arching | Upright, sword-shaped | Slender, upright stems resembling bamboo | Elliptical with spots | Elliptical with stripes | Long, arching | Long, narrow, pointed |
| Colouration | Multi-coloured (green, pink, red) | Green (varied) | Varied | Green with yellow margins | Typically green | Dark green with scattered yellow spots or star-like spots on dark green leaves | Dark green with yellow stripes | Green | Green |
| Growth Form | Compact and upright | Upright | Compact and upright | Compact and upright | Slender, upright stems | Compact and upright | Compact and upright | Tree-like | Compact and upright |
| Other Characteristics | Central yellowish-green stripe on leaves | Typically grown in water or soil | Grown in water or soil | Zebra-like patterns on leaves | Central trunk with branches |
Dracaena Identification: Dracaena Varieties with Pictures.
As mentioned above, most of the above dracaena species have several varieties. In this part, I provide you with 25 dracaena varieties with pictures. You can scroll through images and find your intended dracaena variety.
In addition, I compare the various varieties of every species in a table that will help you with dracaena identification.
Dracaena Varieties of Dracaena marginata
There are 4 varieties of this species. You can see their characteristics in the below table and their images in the following.
| Dragon Tree ‘Colorama’ | Dragon Tree ‘Magenta’ | Dragon Tree ‘Tarzan’ | Dragon Tree ‘Tricolor’ | |
| Foliage Coloration | Mix of green, pink, and red | Deep magenta | A mix of green and red | Green, pink, and cream/white |
| Leaf Shape | Long and arching | Long and slender | Robust and broad | Slender and arching |
| Leaf Texture | Smooth | Smooth | Slightly ruffled or wavy | Smooth |
| Colour Arrangement | Gradient pattern | Uniform magenta coloration | A dynamic mix of green and red | Stripes of green, pink, and cream/white |
| Overall Appearance | Strikingly colorful | Bold and eye-catching | Dynamic and tropical | Elegant contrast of colours |
| Texture Variation | N/A | N/A | Slightly ruffled or wavy | N/A |
Dragon Tree ‘Colorama’
Scientific name: Dracaena marginata ‘Colorama’
Other common names: Red-Edged Dracaena ‘Colorama’, Colorama Madagascar Dragon Tree, Colorama Dracaena
Dragon Tree ‘Magenta’
Scientific name: Dracaena marginata ‘Magenta’
Other common names: Magenta Madagascar Dragon Tree, Magenta Dracaena
Dragon Tree ‘Tarzan’
Scientific name: Dracaena marginata ‘Tarzan’
Other common names: Tarzan Madagascar Dragon Tree, Tarzan Dracaena
Dragon Tree ‘Tricolor’
Scientific name: Dracaena marginata ‘Tricolor’
Other common names: Tricolor Madagascar Dragon Tree, Tricolor Dracaena
Dracaena Varieties of Dracaena fragrans
There are 9 famous varieties of this dracaena species. You can find their characteristics in the below table. I also provide you with a list of these dracaena varieties with pictures.
| D. fragrans ‘Cintho’ | D. fragrans ‘Dorado’ | D. fragrans ‘Hawaiian Sunshine’ | D. fragrans ‘Compacta’ | D. fragrans ‘Lemon Lime’ | D. fragrans ‘Limelight’ | D. fragrans ‘Massangeana’) | D. fragrans ‘Warneckii’ | D. Dracaena fragrans ‘White Jewel’
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| Leaf Coloration | Glossy dark green | Bright green with yellow stripes | Dark green, glossy | Vibrant yellow and green stripes | Citrusy mix of yellow and green | Bright green, lime-colored | Green with yellow stripe | Striped green and white or cream | Creamy white or ivory |
| Leaf Shape | Long and arching | Long and slightly arching | Lance-shaped and compact | Sword-shaped and arching | Long and arching | Long and slender, arching | Broad, lance-shaped | Long, slender, and arching | Long and arching |
| Growth Habit | Elegant and upright | Slightly arching | Dense, upright | Arching and graceful | Arching | Arching | Broad and upright | Arching | Arching |
| Variegation | N/A | Yellow stripes | N/A | Yellow and green stripes | Citrusy mix of yellow and green | Lime-colored | Central yellow stripe | Green and white or cream bands | Creamy white or ivory |
| Overall Appearance | Elegant and glossy | Colorful and vibrant | Compact and sunny | Sunny and tropical | Refreshing and lively | Bright and cheerful | Striking contrast | Elegant and sophisticated | Soft and sophisticated |
Cintho Corn Plant
Scientific name: Dracaena fragrans ‘Cintho’
Other common names: Cintho Dragon Tree
Dorado Corn Plant
Scientific name: Dracaena fragrans ‘Dorado’
Other common names: Dorado Dragon Tree
Hawaiian Sunshine Corn Plant
Scientific name: Dracaena fragrans ‘Hawaiian Sunshine’
Other common names: Hawaiian Sunshine Dragon Tree
Dracaena Janet Craig
Scientific name: Dracaena fragrans ‘Compacta’
Other common names: Janet Craig Corn Plant, Janet Craig Dragon Tree, Compact Dracaena
Lemon Lime Corn Plant
Scientific name: Dracaena fragrans ‘Lemon Lime’
Other common names: Lemon Lime Dragon Tree
Limelight Corn Plant
Scientific name: Dracaena fragrans ‘Limelight’
Other common names: Limelight Dragon Tree
Mass Cane
Scientific name: Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’
Other common names: Mass Cane Plant, Massangeana Corn Plant, Massangeana Dragon Tree
Dracaena Warnock
Scientific name: Dracaena fragrans ‘Warneckii’
Other common names: Warnock Corn Plant, Warnock Dragon Tree
White Jewel Corn Plant
Scientific name: Dracaena fragrans ‘White Jewel’
Other common names: White Jewel Dragon Tree
Dracaena Varieties of Dracaena sanderiana
In the below table, you can find the characteristics of the three varieties of the Dracaena sanderiana. As you can see, the famous house plant lucky bamboo is there in this species. Hence lucky bamboo however considered one of the famous bamboo types but is not real bamboo and is a bamboo-like plant.
In the following, you can see the images of these Dracaena varieties that make easy the Dracaena identification.
| Feature | Lucky Bamboo | Ribbon Dracaena | White Stripe Lucky Bamboo |
| Stem Appearance | Slender, upright, resembling bamboo | Slender, upright, resembling bamboo with silver or white stripes along the edges | Slender, upright, resembling bamboo with a white stripe along the edges |
| Stem Color | Typically green | Typically green with silver or white stripe | Typically green with a white stripe |
| Leaf Shape | Lance-shaped | Generally lance-shaped | Generally lance-shaped |
| Leaf Color | Vibrant green | Generally green | Generally green with a white stripe |
| Variegation | N/A | Silver or white stripe along the edges | White stripe along edges |
| Decorative Element | Often grown in water or planted in soil | Distinctive variegation with silver or white stripe | Visually appealing white stripe |
| Arrangements | Traditional arrangements in water or soil | Adds a decorative and elegant touch | Provides a contrast in arrangements |
Lucky Bamboo
Scientific name: Dracaena sanderiana
Other common names: Curly Bamboo, Chinese Water Bamboo, Friendship Bamboo
Ribbon Dracaena
Scientific name: Dracaena sanderiana ‘Silver Ribbon’
Other common names: Silver Ribbon Lucky Bamboo, Silver Stripe Dracaena, Variegated Lucky Bamboo
White Stripe Lucky Bamboo
Scientific name: Dracaena sanderiana ‘White Stripe’
Other common names: White Ribbon Dracaena, White Variegated Lucky Bamboo
Dracaena Varieties of Dracaena surculose
There are two varieties of this Dracaena species you can compare their characteristics in the below table. In addition, to make the Dracaena identification easy for you, I provide you with images of these plants in the following.
| Gold Dust Dracaena | Milky Way Dracaena | |
| Leaf Appearance | Elliptical leaves with rich green colour and scattered yellow spots resembling gold dust | Elliptical leaves with dark green background and small, cream-coloured or white spots resembling stars |
| Leaf Pattern | Irregular golden speckling | Distinctive pattern resembling a night sky (‘Milky Way’) |
| Plant Form | Compact, bushy, and upright habit | Compact and bushy growth habit |
| Visual Interest | Adds brightness with irregular golden speckling | Adds visual interest with a galaxy-like leaf pattern |
| Suitability for Indoors | Well-suited for indoor settings | Suitable for indoor cultivation |
| Height | Can reach a moderate height | Tends to be compact and bushy |
Gold Dust Dracaena
Scientific name: Dracaena surculosa ‘Florida Beauty’
Other common names: Florida Beauty Gold Dust Dracaena, Spotted Dracaena ‘Florida Beauty’, Gold Dust Plant
Milky Way Dracaena
Scientific name: Dracaena surculosa ‘Milky Way’
Other common names: Spotted Dracaena ‘Milky Way’, Variegated Gold Dust Dracaena
Dracaena Species of Song of India
Scientific name: Dracaena reflexa
Other common names: Pleomele ‘Song of India’, Variegated Reflexed Dracaena, Striped Dracaena
Dracaena Species of Snake plant
Scientific name: Dracaena trifasciata
Other common names: Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, Saint George’s Sword, Bowstring Hemp
I discussed various types of Dracaena trifasciata in my other post and plants which are similar to Snake plants. People also know this plant as Sanseviriea. If you are interested in knowing the difference between Dracaena trifasciata and Sanseviriea, you can read my other post.
Dracaena Species of Green Zebra Plant
Scientific name: Dracaena goldieana
Other common names: Goldie’s Dracaena, Gold Star Dracaena, Green Zebra Dracaena
Dracaena Species of Dracaena Tree
Scientific name: Dracaena arborea
Other common names: Tree Dracaena, Canary Island Dragon Tree, Giant Dracaena
Dracaena Species of Spikes
Scientific name: Dracaena indivisa ‘Proven Accents’
Other common names: Proven Accents Dracaena, Spineless Yucca ‘Proven Accents’, Yucca ‘Proven Accents’
Dracaena Species of Red Blood Dragon Tree
Scientific name: Dracaena draco
Other common names: Dragon Tree, Dragon Blood Tree, Red Sap Dracaena
Dracaena Species of Socotra Dragon Tree
Scientific name: Dracaena cinnabari
Other common names: Dragon’s Blood Tree, Socotra Dracaena, Yemen Dragon Tree
Conclusion
Now you have a comprehensive collection of 9 Dracaena species and 25 of their varieties with their images. I also provided you with tables of their characteristics that make the dracaena identification easy for you.
Did you find your Dracaena plant among them? what was its name? Do you have a Dracaena plant that wasn’t mentioned above?
There is another easy way to identify plants: using Plant identification tools. Have you ever experienced them? Does it work well? Please tell me in the comments about your favourite Plant ID.
Elahe Rabiei
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.