Scientific Name
Dracaena masoniana 'Variegata' (informal name)
Accepted Scientific Name
Dracaena masoniana (Chahin.) Byng & Christenh.
Synonym(s)
Sansevieria masoniana 'Variegata' (informal name)
Common Name(s)
Mason's Congo
Scientific Classification
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Dracaena
Etymology
The specific epithet "masoniana" (pronounced "mas-oh-nee-AH-uh") honors Maurice Mason (1912–1993), a British amateur horticulturist and plant collector, who collected the species in what was called the Belgian Congo, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The cultivar epithet 'Variegata' (pronounced "var-ee-GAY-tuh") means "variegated; having a pattern of different colors or marks" and refers to the plant's variegated foliage.
Description
Dracaena masoniana 'Variegata', formerly known as Sansevieria masoniana 'Variegata', is a semi-succulent plant with attractive, dark green leaves marked with pale yellow at the edges and sometimes elsewhere. The leaves can grow up to 4 feet (1.2 m) long and 10 inches (25 cm) wide.
In bright light, a stalk with clusters of white flowers rises from the center of the plant.
Origin
Dracaena masoniana 'Variegata' is a form of Dracaena masoniana selected for its variegated foliage.
How to Grow and Care for Dracaena masoniana 'Variegata'
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30°F (-1.1°C) to 50°F (10°C).
Place Sansevierias in moderately bright or filtered light. Good locations include a spot in front of a north-facing window or the front of a bright, sunny window covered by a sheer curtain. Although the plant tolerates low light, bright light brings out the leaf colors. However, intense light may cause the leaf edges to turn yellow.
Allow the soil to dry completely before watering, then water deeply until water drips through the drainage hole. Let the pot drain, then discard the water in the saucer. Never allow the soil to become soggy; never let the pot stand in water. Water sparingly throughout the winter. Like most succulent plants that store water in their leaves, Sansevieria rots quickly in excessively wet soil.
Place your Sansevieria at an average room temperature. Protect the plant from drafts and cold temperatures, as it can be damaged when temperatures fall below 50°F (10°C).
Feed the plant once every three weeks throughout the summer. Use a general-purpose fertilizer for houseplants diluted to one-half the strength suggested on the container. Sansevieria is a light feeder, and excessive fertilizer can cause the leaves to fall over.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Sansevieria.
Links
- Back to genus Dracaena
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
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