Dracaena draco is one of the most unique and fascinating plants in the Marimurtra Botanical Garden. This summer, one of our specimens has flowered for the first time after fifteen years—an event that invites us to better discover this extraordinary species. Although the dragon tree (Dracaena draco) is strongly associated with the Canary Islands, its origin is African.
Today, it grows wild in Tenerife, Cape Verde, Madeira, the Moroccan Anti-Atlas… and even on parts of the island of Socotra (Yemen), there are very closely related and similar species (Dracaena cinnabari). These distant populations and species are remnants of an ancient lineage that millions of years ago extended across regions now turned into deserts.
With the desertification of the Sahara and other climate changes, these plants became isolated on islands and mountains, like living fossils of a greener world. This species, part of the asparagus family, has a thick trunk that allows it to store water and grow very slowly. Over time, it can reach monumental shapes and live for centuries.
One of its peculiarities is that it only begins to bloom once it has reached maturity, usually at fifteen years old. From then on, it flowers and branches every ten years. This makes it possible to estimate its age by observing its branching pattern.
Another striking feature is its red sap, known as “dragon’s blood”. This resin, which the plant exudes when cut, has traditionally been used as a medicinal remedy, dye, or varnish, and it still retains that evocative name today.
One of the most legendary specimens of this species was the Great Dragon Tree of Casa Franchi, in La Orotava (Tenerife), long considered the largest in the Canary Islands. According to historical sources, it could reach 25 meters in height, a canopy 23 meters in diameter, and a trunk 15 meters in circumference.
This majestic specimen captivated illustrators, travelers, and scientists of the 18th and 19th centuries. It also withstood several violent storms: in 1819 it lost much of its crown in a hurricane, and another storm in 1867 finally felled it. Although it disappeared in the late 19th century, it is still remembered as a symbol of the natural and cultural heritage of the town.
Some illustrations of the time show it with a door and a staircase, and it’s said that someone even lived inside its trunk. It is documented in books such as Histoire Naturelle des Îles Canaries (1835), where a representation appears based on observations from 1790.
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This specimen is part of the historical collection of the Library from Carl Faust’s former office, founder of the Marimurtra Botanical Garden.
Today at Marimurtra, this flowering dragon tree connects us with a natural history as ancient as it is fascinating. If you want to see it in person, this is a rare moment! You’ll find it in the Canary Islands area, right at the entrance to the first garden.
