''Dracaena sanderiana'' is a species of
flowering plant in the family
Asparagaceae
Asparagaceae, known as the asparagus family, is a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots. The family name is based on the edible garden asparagus, ''Asparagus officinalis''. Those who live in the temperate c ...
, native to
Central Africa.
It was named after the German–English gardener
Henry Frederick Conrad Sander (1847–1920). The plant is commonly marketed as "lucky bamboo".
Names
Common names include Sander's dracaena, ribbon dracaena, lucky bamboo, curly bamboo, Chinese water bamboo, Goddess of Mercy's plant, Belgian evergreen.
It is also called ribbon plant, although the same common name is sometimes used for ''
Chlorophytum comosum
''Chlorophytum comosum'', usually called spider plant or common spider plant due to its spider-like look, also known as spider ivy, ribbon plant (a name it shares with '' Dracaena sanderiana''), and hen and chickens is a species of evergreen pere ...
'' (also known as the ''spider plant''). While the word ''bamboo'' occurs in several of this plant's common names, ''D. sanderiana'' is of an entirely different taxonomic
order
Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to:
* Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood
* Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...
from true
bamboos – though it is worth noting that this plant and true bamboos both fall under the monocot
clade
A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...
. Despite several of its common names that suggest it is from China or Belgium, it is a native African species. ''Dracaena sanderiana'' is often confused with ''
Dracaena braunii
''Dracaena braunii'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. It was named after the German collector Braun, Johannes M. (1859-1893). Most plants named ''Dracaena braunii'' in cultivation are ''Dracaena sanderiana'', a plant wi ...
'', a plant from coastal West Africa with flowers 5 times shorter than those of ''D. sanderiana''.
[
]
Description
A perennial herb reaching a height of , the plant has slightly twisted leaves of grey-green colour, with a length of which is up to . The stem is fleshy, which distinguishes it from bamboo. It requires bright, ventilated areas. It tolerates dry air and does not require constant spraying. A very tenacious plant, it is rather difficult to destroy it.
Cultivation
''Dracaena sanderiana'' and its related varieties are popular houseplants. It is a suitable plant in a confined space, and the most suitable place is a scattered light or semi-shade site because direct sunlight causes yellowing and burning of leaves. Ideal temperature ranges from . It requires average warmth, good illumination, regular watering with dry periods in between. If planted in the ground, it loses its bamboo-like look and it would fill with a leaf-like shape like other dragon tree
''Dracaena'' () is a genus of about 120 species of trees and succulent shrubs. The formerly accepted genera ''Pleomele'' and ''Sansevieria'' are now included in ''Dracaena''. In the APG IV classification system, it is placed in the family Asp ...
s.
It is multiplied by cutting a part of the stem just above the eye. Cuttings can be made year round.
Gallery
File:Donghai Island - P1580772 - lucky bamboo.JPG, A field of lucky bamboo in Donghai Island
Donghai Island (; french: Île de Tan-Hai) (Tunghai) is an island in the southeast part of the urban area of Zhanjiang, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. It has a coastline of , with a total area of , making it the largest island in Guangdong ...
, Guangdong
File:Lucky bamboo spiral houseplant.jpg, Lucky bamboo spiral houseplant
File:LuckyBambooNewRoots.jpg, Newly propagated lucky bamboo cutting with roots forming
File:Dracaena sanderiana1.jpg, Plant with multiple, woven stems.
File:Lucky Bamboo Hearts.jpg, With heart-shaped stems.
File:A trio of plantae "Dracaena Sanderiana".jpg, A trio of ''Dracaena sanderiana''
See also
*
*
References
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q27686509
sanderiana
Flora of Cameroon
House plants
Low light plants