Dragon tree (drago)

Dracaena draco

Its red resin, dragon's blood, was traded as a medicine and varnish from Roman times; the old drago at Icod is the Canaries' best-known tree.

Type: small tree · native and wild plants
Hardiness: zones 10 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 25 ft tall, 15 ft wide
From: Canary Islands, Madeira and Cape Verde
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.

Good for: wildlife, traditional use.

Native to: Atlantic islands (Macaronesia). Hardy in zones 10 to 11.

The story

The dragon tree is the emblem of the Canary Islands, a slow giant with a thick grey trunk and an umbrella of sword-shaped leaves. When cut it bleeds a dark red resin, dragon's blood, traded since Roman times as a dye, varnish and medicine. Wild trees are now rare on cliffs in the Canaries, Madeira and Cape Verde.

Planting

Full sun in sharply drained, even rocky soil. It is happy in a large pot for many years. Plant in spring where frost is rare or absent.

Growing

Very slow: about a metre in ten years, and it branches only after it first flowers. Water sparingly and never leave it in wet soil.

Harvest and use

Grown as a living landmark, not for food. Leave the resin in the tree; wounds heal slowly.

What to watch for

Rot in wet, cold soil is the main danger. Frost below about -3°C burns the leaves.

Safety

Medicinal uses here are shared as history, not advice. Kitchen amounts are fine for most people, but teas, tinctures and supplements can interact with medicines and aren't safe for everyone, especially in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, for children, or with liver or kidney problems. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking any plant as medicine.

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More native and wild plants

General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home