Yurii Kushniruk / Getty Images
Looking for a new houseplant?
Dracaena is a populargenus of plantsthat are common houseplants across the country.
There are more than 170 species of dracaena, though some are too big to be grown indoors.
Yurii Kushniruk / Getty Images
Dracaena are appreciated for their foliage, which is often variegated.
Learn more about these eye-catching types of dracaena before you buy.
An added benefitdracaena can beeasy enough to propagateusing a few methods.
skymoon13 / Getty Images
It needs very bright yet indirect light to keep its unique colors.
Its leaves are tougher, wider, and slightly thicker than other dragon trees.
Because it grows multiple stems in a single pot, it looks like a mini-tree.
Meredith Heil / Getty Images
Tip
The botanical nameDracaenais not always used consistently, and plants are sometimes misnamed.
The broad foliage grows in a compact, dense manner around the stem.
The attractive, glossy foliage has light and dark green stripes.
@drips_botanical_elements / Instagram
Its shiny, solid, wide, dark green leaves have wavy margins.
The leaves sit at the top of the tree-like stem.
Variegated dracaena cultivars are sometimes incorrectly called Dracaena deremensis.
tc397 / Getty Images
It has yellowish lime-green stripes down the center of its leaves.
Its gray-green leaves with crisp white or green stripes make this variety another favorite houseplant.
The glossy dark green leaves have white stripes and traces of light green stripes.
@terrae.pt / Instagram
Its leaves are edged with a band of gold.
With its stiff, sword-like leaves, this slow grower is tough and easy to care for.
It has a reputation for being indestructible, making thecountless types of snake plantsvery beginner-friendly.
@kirstenrobi / Instagram
It can grow in water or a gravel-filled pot with water, making it a great houseplant option.
The broad elliptic leaves have a white long band in the center, which gave this variety its name.
It has dark green leaves with grey banding.
Sataporn Kumsuka / Getty Images
The plant can be grown outdoors or indoors, where it wont get quite as tall.
If planting outdoors, it will thrive in USDA hardiness zones 11-13.
The tree is native to tropical West Africa.
Zloyel / Getty Images
Because of its size, it is usually grown outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 10-11.
The trademarked cultivar is a heat-tolerant, low-maintenance outdoor plant for gardens and patios for USDA hardiness zones 7-11.
It is grown for its foliagelong, sword-shaped leaves, that provide contrast in a flower bed.
Oksana Lyskova / Getty Images
It is also suitable for containers.
It can also be grown as a houseplant, in which case it will not grow as tall.
The tree is native to the Canary Islands and northwest coastal Africa.
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
The name comes from the blood-like color of the trees sap.
The tree needs a warm, tropical climate, and a location with ample, unobstructed sunlight all day.
It is native to the Socotra archipelago in the northwest Indian Ocean near the Gulf of Aden.
Elizabeth Fernandez / Getty Images
It will grow in USDA hardiness zones 10-11.
As houseplants, they remain much smaller, under 8 feet in height.
An indoordracaena plant rarely produces flowers, though it is not impossible.
lizfernandezg / Getty Images
If grown outdoors in semi-tropical or tropical zones, you may see small white flowers.
Crystal Bolin Photography / Getty Images
passion4nature / Getty Images
Adam Yee / Getty Images
Elizabeth Fernandez / Getty Images
Judgefloro, CC0 / Wikimedia Commons
Serenity, CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Jobrestful / Getty Images
Mokkie, CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Dracaenaworldwide / Wikimedia Commons
Julija Kumpinovica / Getty Images
Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Maya Karkalicheva / Getty Images
Sloot / Getty Images