If you are searching for red dracaena varieties, you can find a gallery with their names and caring points. Some of them are real Dracaena plants, however, there are ones that belong to Cordylines but are known as Dracaena plants by mistake. I also will tell you how to distinguish Dracaenas from Cordylines. Keep reading to find out more.
Before starting, do you know the name Dracaena is derived from the Ancient Greek word “Drakaina which means “female dragon“? There is a wonderful historical story behind Dracaena’s name, I recommend searching about it.
➡ You can also hear the audio version of this article.
Part A: Red Dracaena Varieties
Almost all red dracaena varieties belong to the two species of the Dracaena genus: Dracaena marginata and Dracaena reflexa. Although previously Dracaena reflexa was called Dracaena marginata, nowadays they are considered a different species with several varieties.
Keep reading to find the red varieties of these Dracaena species with their images.
A: Dracaena marginata Red Varieties
Dracaena marginata is a popular indoor and outdoor Dracaena species (belongs to the Asparagaceae family). It is also commonly known as the Madagascar dragon tree or red-edged dracaena and is native to Madagascar.
This tropical plant is known for its slender, arching stems and distinctive sword-shaped leaves. Let’s find out more details about their appearance.
Key features of Dracaena marginata include:
Foliage:
- Its long, narrow leaves are typically green with a red or purplish margin along the edges.
- So, this plant is known as “red-edged dracaena.”
- However, the colouration may vary depending on the cultivar.
Size and Growth:
- One of the things I love about Dracaena marginata is it can grow to be a tall and slender plant
- In the right conditions, this plant can reach heights of 6 to 15 feet (1.8 to 4.6 meters) or even more.
- However, this plant has a slow to moderate growth rate, so, you must be passion gardener.
Red Dracaena Varieties of Dracaena marginata
Several varieties and cultivars of Dracaena marginata vary in leaf colour, size, and overall appearance. In the following, I provided names and images of 5 red varieties.
Dracaena marginata ‘Tricolor’:
This variety features three colours on its leaves—green, red, and cream. It adds an extra layer of visual interest compared to the standard variety and is one of the common indoor plants.
Dracaena marginata ‘Bicolor’:
Similar to the tricolour variety, the bicolour variety typically has green and red leaves, creating a two-tone effect.
Dracaena marginata ‘Colorama’:
This cultivar is prized for its vibrant and intense red margins on the leaves, making it a striking and colourful choice.
Dracaena marginata ‘Magenta’:
As the name suggests, this variety has deep magenta-coloured margins on its leaves, creating a bold and eye-catching display.
B: Dracaena reflexa Red Varieties
As I told above, Dracaena Reflexa is very similar to Dracaena marginata however its leaves are slightly larger than it. Previously, Dracaena Reflexa was considered a subspecies in Dracaena marginata but now it is known as a specific species with several varieties. This plant is also known as Song of India or Song of Jamaica.
Let’s find the red dracaena varieties of Dracaena Reflexa:
Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia “red” has slender deep green leaves with deep red strands. It grows usually with a bare trunk and colourful leaves at the top. I love it. you can see this dracaena variety in the below picture.
Care Requirements of Red Dracaena Varieties
I think you may need caring points to have healthy Red Dracaena Varieties, so decided to tell you pro tips for caring for them. Keep reading.
Light: This plant prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate lower light conditions. If you want to have more vibrant red leaves, you must give it sufficient right requirements. However, it would be best if you avoided direct sunlight, as it can scorch its lovely leaves.
Watering: You must allow the top inch of the soil to dry out before watering. This rule is true for most of the houseplants. Please note that overwatering can lead to root rot, so it’s essential to let the soil dry between waterings.
Soil: you must provide well-draining soil for your red dracaena varieties to prevent waterlogging. To provide the best soil mix you should a mix of potting soil and perlite or sand. It will work well.
Temperature and Humidity: Dracaena marginata thrives in average room temperatures and can tolerate some humidity variations. It is adaptable to normal household humidity levels.
Propagation: Dracaena marginata can be propagated through stem cuttings. The only thing that you must do is simply cut a healthy stem, allow it to dry for a day or two, and then plant it in a new pot with fresh soil.
Be cautious: Dracaena marginata is not safe for cats and dogs if ingested, so it’s essential to place it in a location that is out of reach of pets.
Benefits: Dracaena marginata has air purification abilities. In addition, it is a low-maintenance houseplant with visually appealing and can tolerate indoors, so, it is a popular choice as a houseplant or office plant.
Part B: False Red Dracaena Varieties
Several ornamental plants are named red dracaena varieties although are not real Dracaena plants. Indeed, they belong to Cordylines but due to the similarity of their foliage, they confuse it with dracaena plants.
Do you know the quick way to distinguish between Cordyline and Dracaena plants?
I recommend looking at the roots: the Cordylines’ roots are white however Dracaenas have orange roots.
In the following, you can find two common false red Dracaena varieties that are Cordyline plants.
Dracaena Red Ruby Plant
Its scientific name is cordyline fruticose Ruby and is also known as Baby Doll Ti Plant, Good-Luck Plant, Hawaiian Ti Plant, Hawiian Ti, and Ti Plant.
‘Red Star’ Dracaena
However sometimes it is classified as a red Dracaena variety belonging to Dracaena marginata by mistake, but its scientific name is Cordyline australis ‘Red Star’. This cultivar has sword-like, burgundy-red leaves and is known for its compact growth habit.
Conclusion
Here, I tried to provide a collection of red Dracaena varieties with their names and images. Most of them belonged to Dracaena marginata. However, I showed you the two most common false red Dracaena varieties that belong to Cordyline plants.
Do you know more Dracaena cultivars with red foliage? Please improve this post by sharing your ideas and knowledge with us.
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.