- Showy Foliage
- Light Preference/Tolerated (Bright Direct Light, Bright Indirect Light, Medium Light)
- Average Watering Needs
- Mature Height 2-3 Feet
Lemon Surprise Dracaena has whorls of lemon- and lime-colored leaves that spread out while the plant grows upward. Dracaena deremensis has the best color when grown in bright light but will tolerate lower-light levels, making this a great starter houseplant for apartment dwellers and new gardeners. The broad leaves of Dracaena are known to help clean the air of pollution and toxic gasses from new furnishings and carpets.
Best Locations For Growing Lemon Surprise Dracaena
Lemon Surprise is a houseplant that can be grown outdoors for the summer or in USDA zones 10-11 year-round. The bright leaves will brighten your office or bathroom. The petite size is perfect for small spaces or as a specimen on a table. All parts of Dracaena are toxic and should be kept away from children and pets.
Lemon Surprise Dracaena Sunlight Requirements
Indirect, bright light will keep the colors of the variegated leaves vivid. Lower light levels of a basement or north-facing window are tolerated, although the leaves will turn a darker green to compensate. Lemon Surprise will need dappled to part shade when grown outdoors. Direct sun during the hottest part of the day will burn the delicate leaves.
Lemon Surprise Dracaena Care
Lemon Surprise is a smaller and slower-growing Dracaena and will not need repotting often. When the roots begin to show through the drainage holes, it is time to repot. Use an indoor potting mix that has coconut coir or other non-peat-based ingredients. Use a pot that has good drainage holes in the bottom. Bad drainage can cause root rot and the eventual death of Dracaena. Pruning should only be needed to remove any older leaves that are turning brown. Older plants can begin to take on a palm tree look from having the older leaves removed, which is normal. To keep Lemon Surprise Dracaena bushy to the base, cut off the top section and repot it into its own container to grow roots and start a new plant.
Watering Lemon Surprise Dracaena
Dracaenas like to have consistently moist soil that feels like a wrung-out sponge. Let the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out between waterings. Using a container that has poor drainage will cause waterlogged soil and overwatering. Empty the cache pot or saucer within 15-20 minutes after watering, so the roots do not stand in water. Dracaena will go semi-dormant in the winter and slow its growth. Depending on humidity levels, Lemon Surprise Dracaena may only need watering every 1-2 weeks in the fall and winter.
Feeding Lemon Surprise Dracaena
Lemon Surprise Dracaena will benefit from regular, light fertilizing during the spring and summer. Use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half the recommended strength. Once a month, from March to September, supplement watering with this fertilizer. Do not fertilize in the winter months, and be careful to keep the liquid feed off the leaves.
Lemon Surprise Dracaena Information
Light Exposure: Bright Direct Light, Bright Indirect Light, Medium Light |
Care Requirements: Easy |
Watering Requirements: Average - Let the soil dry completely, then, water deeply. |
Pet Friendly: No |
Kid Friendly: Yes |
Air Purifier: Moderate |
Habit: Upright |
Growth Rate: Slow |
Mature Height: 2-3 feet |
Mature Spread: 3-4 feet |
Flowering: No |
Flower Color(s): None |
Flower Shade/Description: Grown for Foliage |
Fragrant: No |
Foliage Type: Variegated |
Foliage Color(s): Green, Blue |
Foliage Description: Variegated with White, Cream, or Red |
Temperature: 70° - 75°F (21° - 24°C) |
Humidity: Average (40% - 60%) |
Common Name: Lemon Surprise Dracaena |
Other Name(s): Dragon Tree |
Scientific Name: Dracaena deremensis 'Lemon Surprise' |
Plant Type: House Plant |
- SKU:
- Dracaena_Lemon.Lime-HP
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
For more detailed information, please click here.
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Summer Shipping
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Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an email with tracking information. Depending on the above criteria we’ll ship your plant(s) towards beginning of the following week from your order. We put together this helpful guide of what to do when you receive your plants in the mail.
It is important to know that all of our plants are clearly labeled for which growing zones the plant can survive in. The plants are thoroughly trialed and tested in every growing zone before we state the plant can grow in a zone. Again, our #1 priority is to ship the plants to you healthy and ready to thrive in your location. So we will do everything in our power to do so.