‘Warneckii’, Dracaena fragrans – Details, Growing Tips

Common Names

‘Warneckii’ (sometimes spelled ‘Warneckei’), ‘Striped Dracaena’

Scientific Binomial Name

Dracaena fragrans (sometimes referred to as Dracaena deremensis var. warneckei , Dracaena deremensis ‘Warneckii’)

Description of ‘Warneckii’, Dracaena fragrans

The ‘Warneckii’ succulent is a cultivar of Dracaena fragrans.  This Dracaena fragrans was previously designated as Dracaena deremensis and that name is still used by some nurseries and others.

The ‘Warneckii’ succulent has been awarded the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.  This plant is an evergreen shrub.  It has sword-shaped leaves that are grey-green with white, green or grey stripes.  The leaves are somewhat tough and stiff.  This is one of the easiest to care for and the most colorful of the Dracaena genus.

The leaves are narrower and come to a sharper point than a similar Dracaena cultivar ‘Janet Craig.’

These can be grown either in the form of a bush or a cane.

Dracaena is a Greek word that means female dragon.

Mature Size:  It usually matures to about 4 feet tall.  The size will vary greatly depending on its environment and on the way you prune it.

Outside Spacing:  36-48 in. (90-120 cm)

Uses:  They work well in homes and offices on counters and tabletops when bushy.  If they are growing taller they do well placed on the floor.

Growing Conditions for ‘Warneckii’, Dracaena fragrans

Light:  It prefers full sun but needs some shade in very hot afternoon sun.  It tolerates low light indoors.  Direct afternoon sun may burn the leaves even indoors.

Temperature:  Does best at 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit but for short periods will tolerate slightly colder temperatures.

Humidity:  Mist the plant with non-fluoridated water regularly if it is in a very dry environment.

Soil:  Loam based potting soil. Do not use a soil mixture that contains perlite since this contains fluoride.  A good mix would include 1/3 pine bark, 1/3 course builder’s sand and 1/3 peat moss.  The best soil pH would be 6 to 6.5.

Flowers:  In the summer it may bloom with very small yellowish-white flowers that are inconspicuous.

Hardiness Zones:  10b, 11

General Care for ‘Warneckii’, Dracaena fragrans

Water:  Allow it to dry about half way down the pot between watering.  Too much water may lead to rot.  It is very sensitive to fluoridated water so use only pure water.

Fertilizer:  Apply a balanced but diluted liquid fertilizer once a month from the spring through early autumn.

Pests and Diseases:  Watch for scale insects and spider mites.

Pruning:  If the plant growth looks weak, in the spring, you can cut it back to 6 inches or so of the base. Removing yellow and dead lower leaves is healthy for the plant.  Trimming brown leaf tips with a scissors does not hurt it at all.

Propagation:  Propagation can be done with leafless stem sections and is best done in the spring.

Repotting:  If needed repot annually using a larger pot with fresh soil.

Signs of Stress and Poor Health

If you discover blotches or bumpy yellow spots on the leaves it has not been watered enough.  The leaves are more sensitive to damage than other Dracaenas so place it in low traffic areas.  It is normal as time goes by that it will lose many of its inner lower leaves which results in a bare cane.  This is not a concern.

New yellow leaves that have transverse green veins is a disorder called “netting.”  If slits start occurring at the base of the leaves this is called “notching.”  The actual cause or the solution to deter both of these disorders is still unknown.

Medicinal and Other Uses

None

Cautions

Mildly toxic to dogs and cats as long as not a large amount has been consumed.

Native Distribution

Madagascar, tropical Africa, Sudan, Ivory Coast, Angola and Mozambique

Other Tips

This plant does not normally seed since the flowers are sterile.  In the rare case that it does seen the plants coming from the seed will not be true.

The ‘Warneckei’ has been proven to remove benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from indoor air.  It is a great looking succulent that also cleans the air pollution.