Re: Dracena draco


--->
>Does anyone know, BTW, whether this is the sort of creature that
>becomes hardier as it gets older - ie, when it has made more mature
>wood? And if so, what sort of age and size does it need to have
>reached to have got that extra bit of toughness (perhaps the *vital*
>bit, in a situation such as mine - or perhaps, even, a situation such
>as Margaret's).
>
Tim

This one grows in the Cape OK, though you don't see many specimens around.
I tried one in my garden & perhaps if I relate my experience, you might find
something of value in it.

Most of the specimens I've seen branch from about 3 - 4 m & I planted mine
in the angle between two joining paths. The trunk bulked out first to quite
an amazing diameter relative to the height, before it really started putting
on vertical growth. When it was at 1&1/2 m I threw a handful of snail
pellets into the crown as it was a great hiding place for them. First
mistake. The crowns seem to be the softest point & the rotting of the
pellets caused the whole head to rot out. I thought I'd lost it, but it
threw new shoots from behind & sealed off the rotting portion. I was
actually quite pleased with this as higher stemmed ones look quite
disproportionate & the most beautiful specimens - to my eye - have a lower
initial branching. The trouble was now its too close to the path & the side
branches are obstructing it. So - transplant it into the centre of the bed.
Its now about 8 years old & 2m high. They do move quickly with regular
feeding & watering. - A mistake also ? Would a slower grown plant be not so
soft & more resistant to decay ? - I stripped off the leaves right back to
the growing tips prior to the moving. Second mistake. Pulling those leaves
off tears out pieces of the stalk underneath & they don't seal easily. If
you ever work on them, cut the leaves above the base & the remainder will
naturally die back to dry off & drop with a naturally sealed abscission
layer. The roots on that thing & the grip it had on life I couldn't believe.
Even digging as wide as I could I ended up with about 6 huge branched side
roots with no laterals. It sat for a while afterwards then each crown slowly
rotted off & died. A hard lesson as it was a lovely specimen.
I'm frost free so I couldn't advise there. The crowns are obviously the weak
point so if you can protect those until their height is above ground frost
damage level you might have a chance. Definitely go for as free a drainage
as possible. Don't try & transplant.....

In the same line of plant have you got the Cordyline australis. That would
be far less marginal for you. And how about the Aloe barbarae ( syn
bainsii ). I suspect that would be rather more hardy for your site - even
though it is a summer rainfall plant. It handles the wet winters here
perfectly well, with good drainage, & it really is a lovely tree, growing
just as high as the Draceana

Regards

Glenn Breayley. Ragnarok & Valhalla Research.
POBox 26158, Hout Bay, 7872, Capetown, South Africa
Ph/Fax SA 021 7904253 E-mail valhalla@iafrica.com
Wholesale nurseryman & Tillandsia specialist wholesale & retail grower.
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