Large-leaved Dragon Tree

The Large-leaved Dragon Tree (Dracaena aletriformis) occurs in southern parts of Africa, specifically from Port Elizabeth eastwards to KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland and into eastern and northern Gauteng. It has been found in a variety of habitats, most commonly in the shade of coastal dune forest and densely wooded ravines near the coast. Inland, it occurs mostly in deep shade along streams in evergreen montane forests but also in shady places in the dry bushveld, always in humus-rich soil. Most of the populations recorded so far grow in areas with either sandstone or quartzite. It is frequently found in dense stands.

The Large-leaved Dragon Tree is an evergreen, usually single-stemmed small tree that grows between two and five meters tall. The bark is tan-coloured and patterned with leaf scars. The leaves are crowded towards the top of the stems and are glossy-green, leathery, strap-shaped and half drooping. They can grow up to one meter long. Tall spikes of sweetly scented, tiny, yellow-green flowers occur on the plant during summer. Eventually orange berries will mature.

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, aletriformis, means 'resembling the genus Aletris' or 'formed like Aletris'. It tries to describe the form of the leaves of this species. In Afrikaans this species is called 'grootblaardrakeboom'.

This species is popular with landscapers. It is used extensively in gardens and makes an ideal specimen plant on lawns in coastal and subtropical areas. In Eastern Cape (South Africa), the root of the Large-leaved Dragon Tree is crushed and used as a wash to drive away evil spirits. I'm not at all sure if that is a scientifically proven method.