Dracaena angolensis
| Light | Bright light to full sun; tolerates moderate shade |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly; let the mix dry out fully between waterings, very little in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining, gritty mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Warmth-loving; keep above about 10 °C, USDA zones 10–11 |
| Propagation | Division of offsets; leaf cuttings (see notes); seed occasionally |
| Toxicity | Toxic if eaten — mildly poisonous to cats, dogs and people (saponins) |
Dracaena angolensis is a stiff, drought-hardy succulent from arid southern Africa, best known as the African spear or cylindrical snake plant. Instead of the flat, strappy foliage of the familiar snake plants, it produces smooth, rigid, round leaves shaped like tapering spears — often sold young with the leaves plaited into a braid or splayed out into a flat fan. It was for many years placed in the genus Sansevieria (as Sansevieria cylindrica), which is now folded into Dracaena.
Description
Dracaena angolensis grows from a stout, creeping underground rhizome that sends up clusters of upright, cylindrical leaves. Each leaf is dark green, sometimes faintly cross-banded in paler grey-green, and grooved down its length; mature leaves can reach well over a metre tall in ideal conditions, tapering to a hard, sharp point that is easily damaged and best left intact. The rounded cross-section is an adaptation to dry climates, reducing the surface area exposed to the sun.
Established plants spread slowly into clumps by offsetting from the rhizome. In cultivation flowering is occasional: a tall spike carries small, tubular, greenish-white to pinkish flowers that are often lightly fragrant in the evening.
The braided and fanned forms seen in shops are not natural growth habits — they are trained by growers while the young leaves are still flexible. As the plant grows on, new leaves emerge in their normal upright spear shape.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to dry, open country in south-central Africa, particularly Angola, from which its species name is drawn. It grows in hot, sunny, seasonally arid habitats with sparse rainfall, rooting in sandy or rocky ground where sharp drainage and long dry spells are the norm. This background explains its exceptional tolerance of neglect and drought in the home.
Cultivation
African spear is one of the toughest and most forgiving of houseplants, and the main way to kill it is to overwater it. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a pot with good drainage, and water thoroughly only once the soil has dried out completely. Through the cooler, darker months reduce watering to a bare minimum, as cold wet compost quickly leads to rot.
It is happiest in bright light and will take direct sun, which keeps the leaves compact and firmly upright; in low light it still survives but grows slowly and can become floppy or etiolated. Warmth suits it — protect it from frost and cold draughts. It is slow-growing and likes to be somewhat pot-bound, so infrequent repotting is all it needs. See Watering for general technique.
Propagation
The easiest and most reliable method is division: lift a clump and separate rooted offsets from the rhizome, each with a growing point and some root, then pot them up and keep them on the dry side until established.
Leaf cuttings are also possible — a leaf, or a section of one, can be set upright in gritty mix and left to root, though this is slow and the new plantlet arises from the rhizome rather than the leaf itself. Note that many shop plants are named or selected forms; leaf cuttings of variegated clones typically revert to plain green, so division is the way to keep a particular form true. Seed is used less often in the hobby.
Cultivars
Several selected forms circulate, including compact "dwarf" spears and variegated clones with cream or yellow striping such as those sold as Dracaena angolensis 'Boncel (a short, fat-leaved spear) and various golden-margined variegates. As with variegated snake plants generally, these hold their colour best in bright light and are increased by division rather than leaf cuttings.
Common problems
- Rot — by far the commonest cause of loss, from overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or water sitting in the crown; leaves soften, yellow and pull away mushy at the base.
- Etiolation and floppiness — too little light makes new leaves weak, pale and unable to stand upright.
- Damaged tips — the growing point at the leaf tip is easily broken or cut; once damaged that leaf stops extending, so handle the spears gently.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff tucked between leaves) and the occasional scale or spider mite can appear, especially on stressed plants.
See also
- Dracaena — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting
- Propagation — offsets · Propagation — cuttings · Pests and diseases