Dracaena fragrans Malaika - Corn plant

The Dracaena fragrans 'Malaika' (synonym Dracaena deremensis 'Malaika') is an irresistibly charming indoor Dragon Tree with its exotic allure and beautiful variegated foliage. Its growth consists of long, narrow sword-shaped leaves, where the light green and white central section contrasts beautifully with the dark green edges. This compact indoor plant, with moderate growth, forms a clump that gradually rises to form a short trunk. Highly graphic, this Dragon Tree also captivates with its ease of cultivation in most indoor conditions.

Now classified within the Asparagaceae family, the Dracaena genus comprises several dozen species primarily native to Africa and Southeast Asia, but also found in regions such as China, Central America, and Australia. The Dracaena fragrans species sometimes called Cordyline fragrans grows naturally in tropical Africa from sea level up to 1,500 metres in altitude. It thrives in dense stands, in dry lowland forests, or in mid-altitude montainous areas. The fragrant Dragon Tree forms a medium-sized bush, reaching a height of up to 6 m, with semi-woody, typically unbranched stems of 2.5 to 10 cm in diameter. The long sword-shaped leaves can grow up to 1 m in length, and the inflorescences up to 60 cm. The small flowers, which are white-yellow and 2 cm in diameter, emit a strong fragrance at night when they open. Once pollinated, they develop into small orange or red fruits 1.5 to 12 cm in diameter.

The Dracaena 'Malaika' is a horticultural cultivar whose name means 'angel' in Swahili, a language spoken by around 100 million people in East Africa. Not only does its leaf colour clearly distinguish it from the species type, but it is also much smaller, making it suitable for indoor cultivation. At maturity, it typically forms a small tower of 1 m to 1.20 m in height and 50 to 60 cm in width, though older specimens may grow slightly taller. Typically, the leaves grow in a spiralled arrangement, giving the foliage a star-like appearance when viewed from above. The slightly sheathing leaf bases overlap, initially growing upright before gracefully arching, giving plants a false palm-like appearance. The sword-shaped lamina are very elongated and relatively narrow, measuring 30 to 50 cm in length. The central section is a beautiful light to chartreuse green bordered by two fairly broad and regular white lines, themselves framed by a dark green margin for a striking effect. This colour harmony gives the variety its distinctive character and brings light into a room. While it thrives in bright light (avoiding direct sunlight), this adaptable plant also tolerates lower light conditions, though it will grow more slowly. As layers of leaves accumulate, this small Dragon Tree eventually forms a short trunk, topped by a clump of leaves. Not only highly ornamental, this attractive plant is also reputed to purify the surrounding air—another reason to welcome it into your home, even if it won’t flower indoors.

The charming Malaika Dragon Tree will add a tropical touch to your living space, fitting equally well in a contemporary setting or a lush green décor. Highly versatile, it will adapt to variable degrees of light and doesn’t require high humidity. Plant it in a dark, glossy pot to highlight its colours and pair it with other plants of a similar style. A Chinese Evergreen with variegated foliage would make a perfect companion to create a vibrant display in your room, or a striking Anthurium magnificum x Dark Phoenix, with its velvety leaves veined in silvery white, so evocative of the tropics.