Canary Islands Dragon Tree

The Canary Islands dragon tree or drago (Dracaena draco) is a subtropical tree-like plant in the genus Dracaena, native to the Canary Islands and neighboring Cape Verde and Madeira. It grows locally in western Morocco and was introduced to the Azores. It is one of the natural symbol of the island of Tenerife, next to the blue chaffinch.

The Canary Islands Dragon Tree is a monocot with a tree-like growth habit currently placed in the asparagus family (Asparagacea). Monocots are flowering plants whose seeds typically contain only one embryonic leaf.

When young it has a single stem. At about 10–15 years of age the stem stops growing and produces a first flower spike with white, lily-like perfumed flowers, followed by coral berries. Soon a crown of terminal buds appears and the plant starts branching. Each branch grows for about 10–15 years and re-branches, so a mature plant has an umbrella-like habit. It grows slowly, requiring about ten years to reach 1.2 metres in height but can grow much faster.

The first part of its scientific name, Dracaena, is a feminine form of the Greek word Drakon and therefore means 'female dragon'. The second part, draco, has obviously the same Greek root and means 'dragon'.
It does not display any annual or growth rings so the age of the tree can only be estimated by the number of branching points before reaching the canopy. One specimen called 'El Drago Milenario' (the thousand-year-old dragon) growing at Icod de los Vinos in northwest Tenerife is the oldest living plant of this species. Its age was estimated in 1975 to be around 250 years, with a maximum of 365 years. It is also the largest Canary Islands Dragon Tree alive. Its massive trunk comes from the contribution of clusters of aerial roots that emerge from the bases of lowest branches and grow down to the soil. Descending along the trunk, they cling tightly to the trunk, integrate with it and contribute to its radial growth.

When the bark or leaves are cut they secrete a reddish resin, one of several sources of substances known as dragon's blood. Dragon's blood has a number of traditional medical uses, although dragon's blood obtained from Canary Islands Dragon Trees was not known until the 15th century.

Canary Islands Dragon Tree is cultivated and widely available as an ornamental tree for parks, gardens, and drought tolerant water conserving sustainable landscape projects.