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The Crimson Fountain

Colorama Dragon Tree

Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia ‘Colorama’

Long, narrow green leaves edged in pink and streaked with pale yellow gather at the stem tips. Grow Colorama in bright indirect light and let the mix dry moderately between waterings.

Explore the care guide
Botanical illustration

Care at a glance

Know your plant

Colorama belongs to the Madagascar dragon-tree group, Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia, in Asparagaceae. Dracaena marginata is a synonym used in horticulture. [8]

Colorama has long, narrow green leaves with pink margins and pale-yellow streaks. [13]

Light

Choose bright filtered or indirect light, protected from hot direct sun. [9][13]

Watering

  1. Allow moderate drying between waterings, while avoiding severe drying of the root ball. [9]

  2. Water evenly, let excess escape, then empty the saucer or cover pot. [1]

  3. Use suitable non-fluoridated water to limit fluoride-related leaf injury. [9]

Soil and pot choice

Use a well-draining houseplant potting mix in a stable pot with drainage holes. [1][2]

Temperature and humidity

Keep the plant in steady indoor warmth, away from cold drafts and hot radiators. [3]

Moderate to high household humidity suits woody dracaenas. [10]

Feeding

During active growth, apply a balanced liquid feed monthly, following its label directions. [13]

Repotting

  1. Repot when roots crowd the container. Choose a slightly larger pot; oversized pots hold unused mix wet longer. [14]

  2. Use fresh medium, keep the plant at its existing depth and water it in. Let excess drain. [2]

Propagation

  1. Take semi-ripe stem cuttings in late spring or early summer. [13]

  2. Use clean pruners to select a healthy stem tip with a firm base. Cut below a leaf node, remove lower leaves and insert the stem into moist, draining cutting compost. [16][15]

  3. Keep the cutting warm, in bright indirect light and moist medium. Pot it into houseplant mix after roots develop. [16][15]

Pruning and foliage care

Shorten overgrown stems to manage height. New shoots develop below the pruning cut. [14]

Problems and checks

Yellowing or wilt

Possible causes
  • Watering stress or root damage.
Checks to distinguish them
  • Feel the mix; check for trapped water.
Low-risk next step
Water dry roots; restore drainage around persistently wet roots.
When to seek expert help
Seek horticultural advice for soft roots or continued decline.
Sources for these checks

Check moisture before changing the routine. [3]

Brown leaf tips

Possible causes
  • Dry air, salts or moisture stress.
Checks to distinguish them
  • Check humidity, mix and water quality.
Low-risk next step
Correct the conditions identified.
When to seek expert help
Seek advice for spreading injury.
Sources for these checks

Assess the growing conditions. [10]

Cottony clusters, bumps or webbing

Possible causes
  • Mealybugs, scale or mites.
Checks to distinguish them
  • Inspect undersides and stem joints.
Low-risk next step
Separate the plant; identify the pest before treatment.
When to seek expert help
Seek advice for a spreading infestation.
Sources for these checks

Inspect pest signs closely. [4]

Seasonal indoor care

Reduce watering as indoor growth slows in winter, while continuing to check the mix. [13]

Children and pets

Safety

Colorama Dragon Tree is toxic to cats and dogs. Keep plants, fallen leaves and cuttings away from pets that chew them. [17]

Avoid contact with cut sap; it can irritate skin. [9]

For suspected poisoning or signs of illness, contact your veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control at 888-426-4435. Provide the botanical name. [5]

Keep plants, cuttings and loose potting material beyond young children’s reach. Keep the botanical name with the pot. [6]

For human plant ingestion in the United States, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Elsewhere, contact your local poison service. Call emergency services for breathing difficulty, seizures, collapse or inability to awaken. [7]

Similar plants

Lemon Lime has arching green and yellow-green striped leaves. [11]

Tornado carries a twisted crown and broad light-green margins. [12]

Colorama has narrow leaves with pink margins and pale-yellow streaks. [13]

Sources

  1. Watering Indoor Plants

    University of Maryland Extension

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Updated: 2023-03-10

  2. Repotting houseplants

    University of Illinois Extension

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  3. Diagnosing Houseplant Problems from Improper Environmental Conditions

    Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Updated: Last reviewed January 2024

  4. Diagnosing Houseplant Problems Caused by Insect Pests

    Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Updated: Last reviewed January 2024

  5. ASPCA Poison Control

    ASPCA Poison Control

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  6. Poisonous and non-poisonous plants: An illustrated list

    National Capital Poison Center

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  7. Get help online or by phone

    National Capital Poison Center

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  8. Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia - Plants of the World Online

    Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  9. Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia - Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  10. Dracaena - Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  11. Dracaena fragrans (Deremensis Group) Lemon Lime - RHS Plant Profile

    Royal Horticultural Society

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  12. Compacta - Dracaena Tornado

    Dracaenakwekerij De Plaats B.V.

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  13. Dracaena marginata Colorama - RHS Plant Profile

    Royal Horticultural Society

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  14. How to grow dracaena

    Royal Horticultural Society

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  15. Q: My dracaena is getting so large. How would I propagate it?

    UF/IFAS Extension, Nassau County

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Publisher date: 2017-06-20 · Updated: 2022-03-07

  16. Cuttings: semi-ripe

    Royal Horticultural Society

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  17. Red-Marginated Dracaena

    ASPCA Poison Control

    Accessed October 5, 2026