Dracaena, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Dracaena is a tough, upright tropical foliage plant that does well in SW Florida from part shade to sun, and our selection runs from pink, golden and lime-striped types to the spiky red-edged Marginata. It handles drought and sandy soil but is frost tender. We deliver and plant 3 and 7 gallon plants.
- Light:
- Part shade to full sun; colored types hold color best with morning sun or bright filtered light
- Water:
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
- Salt:
- Low to moderate; keep out of direct salt spray
Dracaena sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Variety or form | Sizes | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Dracaena Colorama Pink | 3 Gallon, 7 Gallon | Pink-and-green foliage on upright stems, a bright accent in 3 and 7 gallon sizes. |
| Dracaena Lemon Lime | 3 Gallon | Yellow-green striped leaves that light up a shaded bed, in 3 gallon size. |
| Dracaena Sunshine | 3 Gallon | Warm golden-yellow and green foliage for a sunny color accent, in 3 gallon size. |
| Dresina | 3 Gallon | A compact, tidy 3 gallon plant listed with the dracaenas, usually about 1.5 to 2.5 ft tall at delivery. |
| Dracaena Marginata | 7 Gallon | The classic spiky, red-edged dracaena on a sculptural trunk, in 7 gallon size and the tallest of the group. |
| Dracaena Red Princess | 3 Gallon | Burgundy-red foliage on a compact plant, in 3 gallon size, for deep color. |
Dracaena in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 3 to 15 ft tall depending on the variety; Marginata grows tallest
- Light
- Part shade to full sun; colored types hold color best with morning sun or bright filtered light
- Water
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
- Salt tolerance
- Low to moderate; keep out of direct salt spray
- Cold tolerance
- Frost tender: leaves burn near 32°F, so cover plants on frost nights, mostly an inland concern
- Growth rate
- Slow to moderate
- Spacing
- 2 to 4 ft apart, depending on variety
- Florida native
- No, native to tropical Africa and Madagascar
- Botanical name
- Dracaena spp. (several species and cultivars)
Where Dracaena works in a SW Florida yard
Use dracaenas as bold, upright accents where you want color or structure without much care: pink and burgundy types as focal points at an entry, golden and lime types to brighten shaded beds, and Marginata as a spiky, sculptural plant in a corner or large container.
Groups of three look best. Ti plant, bromeliads and snake plant share the same easy-care, tropical look.
- Colorful accent plantings
- Containers and borders
- Architectural focal points
- Low-water tropical beds
How our crew plants it
Plant at the same depth as the pot in well-drained soil, and mound the bed on low lots because stems rot in standing water. Give colored types morning sun or bright shade; Marginata takes more sun.
Space 2 to 4 ft apart, mulch off the stems and water in. Lee and Collier allow extra watering on new plantings, but let the soil dry between soakings.
Care after planting
- Water deeply but not often on your assigned days, since constant wet feet cause stem and root rot.
- Feed in spring and early fall with a slow-release fertilizer with micronutrients, and skip nitrogen and phosphorus from June 1 to September 30 in Lee County, Naples and Marco Island.
- Trim brown tips and dead lower leaves, and cut leggy Marginata canes back in spring to encourage branching.
- Cover plants on frost nights, and wait until spring to cut off burned leaves.
What to watch for
- Dracaena leaves contain saponins that can cause vomiting and drooling in dogs and cats, so keep pets from chewing them.
- Mealybugs and scale hide in the leaf bases and crown, and spider mites show up in dry weather, so check new growth and treat early.
Dracaena questions we hear
Are dracaenas poisonous to dogs and cats?+
Yes, they are considered toxic. Dracaena contains saponins that can cause vomiting, drooling and an upset stomach in dogs and cats, and cats may also show dilated pupils. Keep pets from chewing the leaves, or choose another plant where pets roam.
Can dracaena grow outside in full sun in Florida?+
Yes, Marginata and most dracaenas tolerate part shade to full sun, but the colored and variegated types hold their color and avoid leaf scorch best with morning sun or bright filtered light. In hard afternoon sun the pink, lime and golden types can bleach or burn.
How cold can dracaena take in Florida?+
Dracaenas are frost tender: leaves burn around 32°F and a hard freeze can kill the tops. Waterfront yards seldom get that cold, but inland spots like Lehigh Acres should cover plants on frost nights and wait for spring to cut off burned leaves.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Dracaena
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.