Dracaena trifasciata
A rhizomatous CAM succulent, formerly Sansevieria trifasciata, from tropical west-central Africa. It grows on rocky, shallow, well-drained ground in seasonally dry vegetation, often in partial shade under scattered shrubs and trees. It is so widely cultivated and naturalised across the tropics that its exact wild range and habitat are poorly documented. It tolerates dim rooms but grows best with bright light, warmth and a thorough drying between waterings.
Where it grows wild
A terrestrial clump-former that spreads by rhizomes on rocky, shallow, free-draining soils in seasonally dry tropical vegetation. It often grows in partial shade beneath scattered shrubs and trees rather than on the closed rainforest floor. It uses CAM photosynthesis, opening its stomata at night to save water.
The measured wild records span 239–1000 m with a median of 590 m. One horticultural reference gives 500–1200 m. Both are thin, and there is little field data for truly wild populations.
🔒 Growing it like that
The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:
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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its CC BY-SA 3.0 licence, unmodified.