The Dragon's Blood Tree Page Dracaenaceae

Dracaena aletriformis Syn. Dracaena hookeriana (Leather Dracaena)
a substantial tree from South Africa and Swaziland growing to 15 ft. Rosettes of curved, leathery, strap-like leaves are carried on the end of a stout, branching light-brown trunk patterned with leaf scars.
 
The inflorescence is a panicle of small sweetly perfumed yellow-green flowers produced during the summer, and is followed by orange berries.

Dracaena aubryana (Dwarf Dracaena)
is widely distributed across equatorial Africa. Long, ribbed, sword-shaped leaves on short stems arise in clumps from the soil. The tassel of white flowers is slightly fragrant and followed by bright orange berries.

Dracaena camerooniana - a shrubby plant from equatorial Africa growing up to 20 ft tall. Cane-like stems rising from the rootstock bear whorls of sword-shaped leaves. Pendulous tassels of white flowers are produced at the stem joints.

Dracaena cinnabari - the classic Dragon's Blood Tree of Socotra was known to the Romans as the source of Dragon's Blood, although formally described later (Balfour 1882).
 
In their habitat, old trees adopt a curious mushroom-like shape with the 20ft trunks dividing after each flowering to produce many heads of narrow, leathery glaucous-blue leaves forming a dense crown. The inflorescence is a branched panicle of small, fragrant, greenish-white flowers, followed by orange cherry-sized berries.
 
The trees grow best in regions experiencing mist and low clouds. Although not uncommon, they appear to be regenerating poorly, but perhaps such ancient slow growing trees experience suitable conditions for propagation infrequently.

Dracaena phrynioides - is native to tropical West Africa. Short stems arising from the rootstock carry oval, ribbed leaves which are attractively spotted.

Dracaena sanderiana from Cameroon forms a small 5 ft tall shrubby plant. Multiple stems arising from the rootstock carry dark green or variegated sword-shaped leaves, depending on the cultivar.
 
Dracaena sanderiana is marketed as "Lucky Bamboo," although unrelated to the bamboo (grass) family. The canes are grouped together or twisted into a spiral or other fancy shapes under the influence of directional illumination and gravity. They root easily in water surviving for a long time this way, even with poor illumination. However, they really need to be planted in soil and given bright light to make a satisfactory plant. "Lucky Bamboo" is popular with Feng Shui practitioners, but being an African plant, is presumably a recent addition to the game.

Dracaena schizantha - a tree with a cluster of leathery, narrow, tapering blue-green leaves on a substantial trunk with pale bark patterned by leaf scars.
 
The panicle of small white flowers is followed by a cluster of orange berries. Native to Somalia.

Dracaena steudneri Syn. Dracaena papau (Bush Nightfighter, Northern Large-Leaved Dragon-Tree ) - a shrubby multi-stemmed tree up to 45 ft tall. Tapering trunks with pale brown bark arise separately from the rootstock and may branch occasionally. They bear terminal clusters of large sword-shaped, ribbed green leaves.
 
The inflorescence is a panicle of many small greenish-white flowers followed by a cluster of reddish-purple fruit. Native to tropical East Africa from Mozambique and Zimbabwe to Ethiopia, typically growing at the edges of evergreen forests.