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{{SPlantbox
|familia=Ruscaceae
|genus=Dracaena
|species=marginata
|common_name=Madagascar Dragon Tree, Red Edged Dracaena
|habit=tree
|Min ht box=2
|Min ht metric=m
|Max ht box=5
|Max ht metric=m
|origin=Madagascar
|lifespan=perennial
|exposure=part-sun, shade
|water=moderate
|features=foliage, houseplant
|Min Temp Num=15
|Temp Metric=°C
|image=Starr 080117-2117 Dracaena marginata.jpg
|image_width=200
|image_caption=Dracaena marginata
}}
'''''Dracaena marginata''''' (Madagascar Dragon Tree or Red Edged Dracaena) is a [[flowering plant]] in the family [[Ruscaceae]], native to [[Madagascar]]. It is a slow-growing [[shrub]] or small [[tree]], eventually reaching heights of 2-5 m. The thin [[leaf|leaves]] are linear and a deep, glossy green color with red edges; typically 30-90 cm long and 2-7 cm broad, tapering to an acuminate point.
==Cultivation==
It is a popular [[houseplant]] that needs little attention, with several [[cultivar]]s available with the leaves [[variegation|variegated]] with red or pale yellow. It requires a minimum temperature of 15 °C (59 °F), and is more tolerant than most plants of dry soil and irregular watering, though liable to root decay in permanently wet soil. Because it requires minimal care it is very popular in offices where the constant heat and light suits their growing requirements.
It has been widely confused with other species of ''[[Dracaena (plant)|Dracaena]]'', and many or most of the plants in cultivation under this name may actually be ''[[Dracaena cincta|D. cincta]]'' or ''[[Dracaena concinna|D. concinna]]'' (Huxley 1992).
It is one of the plants used in the [[NASA Clean Air Study]] and has shown to help remove [[formaldehyde]].<ref>http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/ssctrs.ssc.nasa.gov/foliage_air/foliage_air.pdf</ref>
<blockquote>
The dragon tree is an effective air-cleaner and is among the best plants for removing [[xylene]] and [[trichloroethylene]] <ref>Wolverton, B.C. (1996) ''How to Grow Fresh Air''. New York: Penguin Books. p.72</ref>
</blockquote>
''D. marginata'' is very susceptible to fluoride toxicity. It usually cannot tolerate direct sunlight even though the plants enjoy high light situations the best. However, almost any light level will do.
===Propagation===
Cuttings.
===Pests and diseases===
==Varieties==
Tricolor is a very popular variety with green, white and pink striped leaves.
==Gallery==
<gallery perrow=5>
File:Dracaena marginata 'Tricolor' 01.jpg
File:Dracaena.jpg
File:Starr 080117-2116 Dracaena marginata.jpg
File:Starr 070906-8675 Dracaena marginata.jpg
File:Starr 080417-4067 Dracaena marginata.jpg
File:Starr 080417-4066 Dracaena marginata.jpg
File:Starr 080417-4069 Dracaena marginata.jpg
File:Starr 080417-4070 Dracaena marginata.jpg
File:Starr 080417-4073 Dracaena marginata.jpg
File:Starr 080417-4125 Dracaena marginata.jpg
</gallery>
==References==
<references/>
<!--- xxxxx *[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963 -->
<!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 -->
<!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 -->
<!--- xxxxx *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608 -->
==External links==
*{{wplink}}
{{stub}}
__NOTOC__
|familia=Ruscaceae
|genus=Dracaena
|species=marginata
|common_name=Madagascar Dragon Tree, Red Edged Dracaena
|habit=tree
|Min ht box=2
|Min ht metric=m
|Max ht box=5
|Max ht metric=m
|origin=Madagascar
|lifespan=perennial
|exposure=part-sun, shade
|water=moderate
|features=foliage, houseplant
|Min Temp Num=15
|Temp Metric=°C
|image=Starr 080117-2117 Dracaena marginata.jpg
|image_width=200
|image_caption=Dracaena marginata
}}
'''''Dracaena marginata''''' (Madagascar Dragon Tree or Red Edged Dracaena) is a [[flowering plant]] in the family [[Ruscaceae]], native to [[Madagascar]]. It is a slow-growing [[shrub]] or small [[tree]], eventually reaching heights of 2-5 m. The thin [[leaf|leaves]] are linear and a deep, glossy green color with red edges; typically 30-90 cm long and 2-7 cm broad, tapering to an acuminate point.
==Cultivation==
It is a popular [[houseplant]] that needs little attention, with several [[cultivar]]s available with the leaves [[variegation|variegated]] with red or pale yellow. It requires a minimum temperature of 15 °C (59 °F), and is more tolerant than most plants of dry soil and irregular watering, though liable to root decay in permanently wet soil. Because it requires minimal care it is very popular in offices where the constant heat and light suits their growing requirements.
It has been widely confused with other species of ''[[Dracaena (plant)|Dracaena]]'', and many or most of the plants in cultivation under this name may actually be ''[[Dracaena cincta|D. cincta]]'' or ''[[Dracaena concinna|D. concinna]]'' (Huxley 1992).
It is one of the plants used in the [[NASA Clean Air Study]] and has shown to help remove [[formaldehyde]].<ref>http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/ssctrs.ssc.nasa.gov/foliage_air/foliage_air.pdf</ref>
<blockquote>
The dragon tree is an effective air-cleaner and is among the best plants for removing [[xylene]] and [[trichloroethylene]] <ref>Wolverton, B.C. (1996) ''How to Grow Fresh Air''. New York: Penguin Books. p.72</ref>
</blockquote>
''D. marginata'' is very susceptible to fluoride toxicity. It usually cannot tolerate direct sunlight even though the plants enjoy high light situations the best. However, almost any light level will do.
===Propagation===
Cuttings.
===Pests and diseases===
==Varieties==
Tricolor is a very popular variety with green, white and pink striped leaves.
==Gallery==
<gallery perrow=5>
File:Dracaena marginata 'Tricolor' 01.jpg
File:Dracaena.jpg
File:Starr 080117-2116 Dracaena marginata.jpg
File:Starr 070906-8675 Dracaena marginata.jpg
File:Starr 080417-4067 Dracaena marginata.jpg
File:Starr 080417-4066 Dracaena marginata.jpg
File:Starr 080417-4069 Dracaena marginata.jpg
File:Starr 080417-4070 Dracaena marginata.jpg
File:Starr 080417-4073 Dracaena marginata.jpg
File:Starr 080417-4125 Dracaena marginata.jpg
</gallery>
==References==
<references/>
<!--- xxxxx *[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963 -->
<!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 -->
<!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 -->
<!--- xxxxx *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608 -->
==External links==
*{{wplink}}
{{stub}}
__NOTOC__
