Song of India, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Song of India is a variegated dracaena with arching stems and green leaves edged in cream and yellow, and it grows well in SW Florida in part sun if you protect it from cold. It reaches 6 to 8 ft and gives beds a bright tropical accent. Ours are 3 gallon plants, delivered and planted by our crew.
- Light:
- Part sun to bright filtered light
- Water:
- Low to moderate; very drought tolerant once established
- Salt:
- Low; keep out of salt spray
Song of India 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.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Song of India | 3 Gallon |
Song of India in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 6 to 8 ft tall or more in most yards, with arching, multi-stemmed branches; slow growing
- Light
- Part sun to bright filtered light
- Water
- Low to moderate; very drought tolerant once established
- Salt tolerance
- Low; keep out of salt spray
- Cold tolerance
- Cold-sensitive; leaves burn when nights drop toward the mid-30s, so cover it on cold nights
- Growth rate
- Slow to moderate
- Florida native
- No
- Botanical name
- Dracaena reflexa 'Song of India'
Where Song of India works in a SW Florida yard
Song of India is a foliage accent: its cream stripes brighten a bed beside an entry, at a patio corner or in a large pot on the lanai. The arching stems look best with some room, and low plants such as bromeliads, ti plants and liriope can fill in around the base.
Put it where you can cover it easily on cold nights, and out of direct salt spray.
- Bright foliage accent
- Patio and lanai pots
- Tropical bed backdrop
How our crew plants it
Song of India is planted at the same depth as the pot, in well-drained soil with morning sun or bright filtered light, and mulched lightly off the stems. Watering in and cleanup are handled by our crew.
Extra watering is allowed on new plantings in Lee and Collier, so keep it watered for the first couple of months; after that it is very drought tolerant.
Care after planting
- Cover with frost cloth when nights drop toward the mid-30s, and expect burned leaf tips to show days later.
- Water deeply but not often once established, since soggy soil is the fastest way to lose it.
- Cut leggy stems back by about a third in spring, and new shoots will sprout below the cut.
- Give it a light feeding of slow-release fertilizer in spring and fall, keeping nitrogen and phosphorus products off from June 1 to September 30 under the Lee County, Naples and Marco Island ban.
What to watch for
- Dracaenas are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, causing vomiting and drooling, so keep it out of reach of pets that nibble plants.
- Cold and salt spray burn the leaf edges, and brown tips are the first sign.
Song of India questions we hear
Is Song of India toxic to cats and dogs?+
Yes. The ASPCA lists dracaenas as toxic to cats and dogs because of saponins, and chewing the leaves can cause vomiting, drooling and loss of appetite. If a pet eats it, call your vet or a pet poison hotline. Plant it where pets do not roam, or choose another plant.
Can Song of India grow outside in Southwest Florida?+
Yes. It does well outdoors in part sun to bright filtered light and handles dry spells once rooted. It is cold-sensitive, and UF/IFAS Charlotte County Extension notes it will not appreciate temperatures below about 34°F. Plant it in a protected spot and be ready to cover it on cold nights.
How big does Song of India get outdoors?+
Most plants reach 6 to 8 ft or more, with irregular, multi-stemmed branches, and they grow slowly. You can keep one shorter by cutting stems back in spring. In pots on a lanai it stays smaller.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Song of India
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.