The Dracaena ‘Lisa’ cane is a popular, low-maintenance houseplant admired for its clean, vertical form and lush foliage. This cultivar of Dracaena fragrans is common in homes and offices due to its ability to tolerate a wide range of indoor conditions. While the plant is widespread, blooming is a highly unusual event for indoor specimens, making the flowering a surprising and often unseen phenomenon for most owners.
Identifying the Dracaena ‘Lisa’ Variety
The Dracaena ‘Lisa’ is recognized by its slender, upright canes topped with a dense crown of deep green, glossy leaves. This plant is a cultivar of Dracaena fragrans, which is native to tropical regions across Africa, including Sudan and Mozambique. Its resilience makes it an excellent choice for indoor cultivation across the globe.
The leaves are typically narrow, lanceolate, and arch slightly, giving the plant an elegant, fountain-like appearance. It prefers bright, indirect light, though it can tolerate lower light levels, which slows growth. Water only when the top inch or two of soil has dried out, as the plant is susceptible to root rot.
Dracaena plants are sensitive to mineral salts and fluoride found in many municipal water sources. Exposure to these chemicals can cause the leaf tips to turn brown over time. Using distilled or filtered water can help prevent this cosmetic issue.
The Characteristics of the Rare Bloom
Flowering is considered rare because it typically only occurs in very mature plants thriving in near-optimal conditions for many years. Plants must usually be at least five years old and well-established to accumulate the energy required for this event. The bloom signals that the plant is in excellent health and has achieved a high level of vitality.
The flowers emerge on long, branching stalks called panicles, which can reach up to 60 inches in length. The individual flowers are small, measuring about a quarter of an inch across, and are star-shaped with six lobes. They initially appear as pale pink buds but open to a creamy white or pale yellow color.
The most notable characteristic is its intense, sweet fragrance, often described as cloyingly sweet or honey-like. This scent is strongest at night because the flowers are adapted to attract nocturnal pollinators in their native habitat. The blooming period can last for several weeks, with individual flowers opening at dusk and often falling off by morning.
Managing the Plant Before and After Flowering
Maintaining consistent, high-quality care is the best way to encourage flowering in a mature specimen. Providing bright, indirect light, consistent moisture without overwatering, and a balanced, diluted fertilizer during the growing season contribute to the plant’s overall health. Optimal conditions help the plant reach the maturity required to produce an inflorescence.
During the bloom period, the flowers produce a sticky, sweet nectar that can drip onto the floor and surrounding surfaces. Owners may need to place a protective covering beneath the pot or move the plant to an isolated location to manage this sap. Moving the plant to a well-ventilated area can also help manage the powerful fragrance.
Once the flowers have faded, the spent stalk should be removed to redirect the plant’s energy back into foliage growth. Use a sharp, clean tool to cut the stalk at its base where it meets the cane. All Dracaena species contain saponins, which are compounds toxic to household pets. Ingesting the leaves can cause vomiting, drooling, weakness, and dilated pupils in cats. The plant should be placed in an area inaccessible to pets to prevent accidental poisoning.