Dracaena Dorado (Dracaena fragrans 'Dorado'), 3 ft 1 in Tall in an 8 inch Nursery Pot
Dracaena fragrans (Deremensis Group) 'Dorado' · Dracaena Dorado
- 30-day returnsNot happy with your plant? Bring it back within 30 days for an exchange or a refund.
- Pick up any time we're openOpen 11:00 am to 6:30 pm, seven days a week, at 3742 West 10th Avenue, Kitsilano. You can come in right after you order. Pickup is always free. For delivery, add it to your cart: $35 plus GST and PST, or free on orders of $98 or more.
Want a tall dracaena with colour in every leaf? The Dorado has thick, glossy, dark green leaves, each one edged in lime green, and it's full from the rim of the pot to the top. It's 37 in tall in an 8 in nursery pot, $74.99 before tax, ready to pick up at our Kitsilano shop.
- Thick, glossy, dark green leaves, each one edged in lime green. The lower leaves arch out and curl down over the rim, so it looks full from top to bottom.
- 37 in (94 cm) tall in an 8 in (20 cm) black nursery pot. No decorative pot is included, so you choose the pot yourself.
- Pick it up at our Kitsilano shop any time we're open, 11:00 am to 6:30 pm, seven days a week, even right after you order.
- Toxic to cats and dogs if chewed. Keep it in a room your pets stay out of, and read the pet note below.
- Dark green leaves, lime edges
- 8 in nursery pot, choose your own pot
- Toxic to cats and dogs
- Bright, indirect light
Sending it as a gift?
- Add it to your cart and choose delivery at checkout: $35 plus GST and PST, or free when the order is $98 or more.
- Enter their address in Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Richmond or Burnaby as the delivery address. You can place the order from anywhere. We deliver only to these five cities.
- The receipt comes to your email only, and we email you when it has been delivered.
- After you pay, we email you, not them, to confirm the delivery day. Write your gift message, and whether it is a surprise, in the notes at checkout.
- Not sure which plant suits them? Send a gift card and let them choose at our Kitsilano shop.
- Not for a home with cats or dogs that chew plants. For a home with cats or dogs, see our Money Tree.
Our shop is at 3742 West 10th Avenue in Kitsilano. Pick it up any time we're open, 11:00 am to 6:30 pm, seven days a week, even right after you order. It's 37 in tall with its pot, so make sure your car has room for it.
What you get
- One Dracaena Dorado, about 37 in (94 cm) tall, growing in its 8 in (20 cm) black plastic nursery pot, in the soil it grew in.
- No decorative pot is included, so you choose the pot yourself. No saucer either.
- Every Dorado we have is at our Kitsilano shop. Come in any time we're open, even right after you order, and pick the one you like.
Size and details
| Plant | Dracaena Dorado, Dracaena fragrans (Deremensis Group) 'Dorado', sold by growers as Dracaena deremensis 'Dorado' |
|---|---|
| Leaves | Thick, glossy and dark green, with lime green edges. The lower leaves arch out and curl down |
| Container | Black plastic nursery pot (no decorative pot) |
| Pot size | 8 in (20 cm) across |
| Height | 37 in (94 cm) on the plant we measured, from the bottom of the pot to the top of the highest leaf |
| Width | Not measured yet. Ask us and we'll measure it for your spot |
| Soil | The grower's mix it came in |
| Light | Bright, indirect light, no hot direct sun |
| Water | Let the top quarter of the soil dry between waterings, and don't let it go bone dry |
| Pets | Toxic to cats and dogs if chewed (ASPCA) |
| Stock | Every one is at our Kitsilano shop. No two grow exactly alike, so come in and pick the one you like |
| Pick up | 3742 West 10th Avenue, Kitsilano. Any time we're open, even right after you order |
About this plant
This is a Dracaena Dorado, a variegated dracaena. Its thick, glossy leaves are dark green with a lime green edge, and that bit of lime does a lot for a room on a grey Vancouver day. The plant is full and bushy, with leaves from the rim of the pot to the top, and the lower leaves arch out and curl down over the rim. It stands 37 in (94 cm) tall, measured from the bottom of the pot to the top of the highest leaf.
Growers sell it as Dracaena deremensis 'Dorado'. Deremensis is an older name, and today it's treated as a group within Dracaena fragrans, the same species as the corn plant. So the full name is Dracaena fragrans (Deremensis Group) 'Dorado'. NC State Extension describes 'Dorado' as having thick, dark green leaves with lime green edges that curl downward, and you can see that on this plant.
It comes in its plain black plastic nursery pot, 8 in (20 cm) across, in the soil it grew in. No decorative pot is included, so you choose the pot yourself. The plant in its nursery pot is $74.99 before tax. Every Dorado we have is at our Kitsilano shop, and no two grow exactly alike, so come in and pick the one you like.
Care comes down to light and water. Darrell, who has more than 25 years of growing behind him, gives one rule for dracaenas: “let them dry the top quarter of their pot. They don't like getting too dry.” Give it bright, indirect light and keep it out of hot direct sun. The full care notes are below, written for Vancouver's short, grey winter days.
This plant isn't right for every home. It's toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, and at 37 in tall it's easy for a pet to reach. If you have a pet or a small child who puts leaves in their mouth, keep it in a room they can't get into, or choose another plant. Not happy with your plant? Bring it back within 30 days for an exchange or a refund.
Want something taller? Our Janet Craig Compacta cane is another Dracaena fragrans, three canes 47 in tall with dense tufts of dark green leaves, and it comes with free delivery. Want a smaller dracaena with lime in its leaves? Our Lemon Lime dracaena comes in a 6 in nursery pot. Not sure which one suits your space? Ask us at the counter.
Care in a Vancouver home
Light
Bright, indirect light suits it best, like an east window, or a few feet back from a south or west one. Darrell's short version for dracaenas is “the top quarter dry, bright indirect light.” Hot direct sun can burn the leaves, and NC State Extension notes that in light that's too low, new leaves come in narrower. From about November to February, Vancouver days are short and often grey, with only about eight hours of daylight in December. In those months, move it closer to your brightest window, with the leaves off the cold glass. A quarter turn of the pot every couple of weeks helps it grow evenly on all sides.
Water
Darrell's rule for dracaenas: “let them dry the top quarter of their pot. They don't like getting too dry.” To check, push a dry wooden chopstick about a quarter of the way down the pot, leave it a minute and pull it out. If it comes out damp, wait. If the top quarter is dry, water slowly until a little runs out of the bottom, let it drain, then tip out any water left in a saucer or outer pot. His short version: “don't let them go bone dry and don't keep them overly too wet.” In winter the soil dries more slowly, so the gaps between waterings get longer.
Where to keep it
An ordinary warm room suits it. Keep it clear of heater vents, cold drafts from an outside door, and cold window glass on winter nights. In a home with pets, the spot that works is a room they stay out of.
Brown spots and brown tips
Darrell's warning for dracaenas: if they go really dry and then get a heavy watering, “you find these big brown circles in the leaves.” Steady watering, with the top quarter dry each time, helps avoid that. Brown, dry tips are a different thing. Dry heated air, uneven watering or fertilizer salts building up in the soil can all cause them, and NC State Extension notes that tips can brown when indoor air is too dry. Every few months, water it slowly in the shower or tub until water runs out the bottom, to rinse old salts out. A brown tip won't turn green again. If it bothers you, trim off just the brown part with clean scissors, following the shape of the leaf.
Lower leaves
As the plant grows, its oldest, lowest leaves turn yellow and dry off now and then. That's normal. Once a leaf comes away easily, remove it. Many yellow leaves at once, on soil that stays wet, is different, and usually means too much water.
Dry air and pests
Normal home air is fine. In winter, heating makes the air dry, and that's when spider mites like to show up. Look for fine webbing and tiny pale specks on the leaves. Also check where the leaves meet the stem for mealybugs, which look like small bits of white cotton. Wiping the glossy leaves with a soft, damp cloth every month or so keeps them shiny and helps you spot pests early. If you see either pest, show us a photo at the counter.
Feeding
Very little. A gentle houseplant fertilizer in spring and summer, at the strength on the label or weaker, about once a month at most. Nothing from November to February.
Choosing a pot
You don't have to repot it right away. The easiest way to dress it up is to set the nursery pot inside a decorative pot a little wider than 8 in, then tip out any water that collects in the bottom after you water. If you'd rather plant it straight in, do it in spring and go up one size. When Darrell repots any plant, he keeps to one size up: “Nothing too big right away. Just to get a good one size up.” Pick a pot with a drainage hole and a potting mix that drains well.
Pets and kids
Please keep this plant away from pets and from small children who chew leaves. Dorado is a form of Dracaena fragrans, and the ASPCA lists Dracaena fragrans (corn plant) as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. It contains saponins. The signs the ASPCA lists are vomiting (sometimes with blood), depression, loss of appetite, drooling, and dilated pupils in cats. NC State Extension also lists Dracaena fragrans as toxic to cats, dogs and people if eaten. If your pet has chewed it, call your vet right away.
At 37 in tall, its leaves are easy for a dog or a cat to reach, and the lower ones hang down over the rim of the pot. Keep it in a room your pets stay out of. Pick up any leaves that drop, too. If you'd rather not take the chance, ask us at the counter about plants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic, and read the pet note on our trailing peperomia.
Sources: ASPCA, Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans) · NC State Extension, Dracaena fragrans
Not sure it suits your spot?
Send a photo of the corner you have in mind. Darrell, who has grown plants for more than 25 years, will tell you honestly if this plant will be happy there.
Goes well with
Janet Craig Compacta caneAnother Dracaena fragrans, three canes 47 in tall in a 10 in nursery pot, with dense tufts of dark green leaves. $169.99, with free delivery or pickup.
Lemon Lime dracaenaA small 6 in dracaena with bright lime leaf edges, $16.99, for pick up at our shop. The same top quarter dry watering.
Dracaena Kiwi in a ceramic potStriped lime and cream leaves, 32 in tall in a 14 in ceramic pot from Vietnam with its saucer, $265. Repotted for you when you order.
Questions people ask
What is a Dracaena Dorado?
It's a variegated form of Dracaena fragrans, with thick, glossy, dark green leaves edged in lime green. Growers sell it as Dracaena deremensis 'Dorado'. Deremensis is an older name, and today it's treated as a group within Dracaena fragrans. NC State Extension describes 'Dorado' as having lime green edges and leaves that curl downward. This one is full and bushy, 37 in tall in an 8 in nursery pot.
How do I care for a Dracaena Dorado?
Bright, indirect light, and water when the top quarter of the soil has dried. Water slowly until a little runs out of the bottom, let it drain, and don't leave it sitting in water. Don't let it go bone dry either. Keep it away from heater vents and cold drafts, feed it lightly in spring and summer only, and water less from November to February.
How much light does a Dracaena Dorado need?
Bright, indirect light is best, like an east window, or a few feet back from a south or west one. NC State Extension says bright to moderate, filtered light. Hot direct sun can burn the leaves, and in light that's too low, new leaves come in narrower. In a Vancouver winter, move it closer to your brightest window.
How often should I water a Dracaena Dorado?
Go by the soil, not the calendar. Let the top quarter of the soil dry, then water slowly until a little runs out of the bottom, and don't leave the pot sitting in water. Don't let it go bone dry either. In a Vancouver winter the soil dries more slowly, so you'll water less often than in summer.
Is Dracaena Dorado toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes, if they chew it. Dorado is a form of Dracaena fragrans, and the ASPCA lists Dracaena fragrans (corn plant) as toxic to dogs and cats. It contains saponins. Chewing it can cause vomiting, sometimes with blood, drooling, depression and loss of appetite, and cats can get dilated pupils. Keep it in a room your pets stay out of, and call your vet right away if your pet has chewed it.
Why does my Dorado have brown spots or brown tips?
Big brown spots can follow a long dry spell and then a heavy watering. Darrell puts it this way: if they go really dry and then you water them heavily, “you find these big brown circles in the leaves.” Keep the watering steady, with the top quarter of the soil dry before you water again. Brown, dry tips are different. Dry heated air, uneven watering or fertilizer salts in the soil can cause them. Not sure which one you're seeing? Send us a photo.
How big is this Dorado? Will it fit?
The plant we measured is 37 in (94 cm) tall, measured from the bottom of its 8 in (20 cm) nursery pot to the top of the highest leaf. It's full from the rim up, and the lower leaves arch out past the pot. We haven't measured the width yet. If you need it for your spot, call or email us and we'll measure it for you.
Does it come with a pot, and do I need to repot it?
It comes in its black plastic nursery pot, 8 in (20 cm) across. There's no decorative pot, so you choose your own. You don't have to repot it right away: you can set the nursery pot inside a decorative pot and tip out any water that collects in the bottom. If you repot it, go up one pot size in spring.
Will I get the plant in the photos?
Every Dorado we have is at our Kitsilano shop, and no two grow exactly alike, so yours may look a little different from the photos. If we have more than one when you come in, look them over and take the one you like.
Do you deliver this plant?
Yes, to Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby. Add it to your cart (shop.dhgardencentre.com/cart) and choose delivery at checkout: $35 plus GST and PST, or free when the order is $98 or more. Pickup at our Kitsilano store is always free. After you pay, we email you to confirm the delivery day.
What if my plant doesn't do well?
Bring it back within 30 days and we'll exchange it or give you a refund.
Where can I buy a Dracaena Dorado in Vancouver?
At DH Garden Centre, 3742 West 10th Avenue in Kitsilano. We're open 11:00 am to 6:30 pm, seven days a week, and you can pick this one up in store any time we're open, even right after you order online.
See it before you buy
Every plant on this page is in our shop right now. Come and pick the one you like best, or let us choose a healthy one for you.
DH Garden Centre
3742 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6R 2G4
Open 7 days, 11:00 AM to 6:30 PM