Cutflower Nomenclature

Scientific/Botanical Name:

Genus: Dracaena

Specie: D. sanderiana

Variety/Cultivar:

English Name:

 

Common Name:

Ribbon Dracaena, Lucky Bamboo, Belgian Evergreen , Ribbon Plant

Botanical Family:

Name in Latin: Asparagaceae

Name in English: Asparagus

The Plant

Origin: Cameroon in tropical West Africa

Growth Habit: small, shrubby species with slender stems and flexible strap-shaped leaves that grow as understorey plants in rainforests

Flower:

Blooming Period:

Leaf: flexible strap-shaped leaves

Usage:

Popular houseplants.

Care and Handling

Soil: kept in water, ( does grow better in soil.)

Amount of water: The water should be completely changed every two weeks. The water should be bottled water, soft tap water with very little fluoride

Nutrition:

Special handling:

Special feature/remarks:

It is marketed in the developed world as a Chinese decorative plant "Lucky Bamboo" (although unrelated to Bamboo and not native to Asia), propagated from short cuttings, usually in water.

Twisted shapes can be produced by rotating the plant with respect to gravity and directed light sources.

Dracaena sanderiana has long been associated with the Eastern practice of feng shui. Lucky bamboo is believed to be an ideal example of the thriving wood and water element, with the addition of a red ribbon sometimes tied around the stalks which is believed to "fire" the positive flow of energy or chi in the room. The number of stalks also has meaning: three for happiness; five for wealth; six for health.