Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C.Chen is one of the most culturally and medicinally significant members of the genus Dracaena. Native to southern China and mainland Southeast Asia, this slow-growing arborescent monocotyledon is the primary source of Chinese dragon’s blood (xue jie, 血竭), a deep red resin that has been used in traditional medicine for at least 1,500 years. The species is also known as the Cambodian dragon tree or Thai dragon tree.
The species belongs to the Asparagaceae. Its taxonomic status has recently shifted: POWO (Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) now treats the name Dracaena cochinchinensis as a synonym of Dracaena angustifolia (Medik.) Roxb., following a 2024 revision. However, the Flora of China, the entire pharmacological literature and all Chinese conservation frameworks continue to use Dracaena cochinchinensis. Given its overwhelming presence in scientific, medicinal and conservation contexts, the name is retained here while noting the current POWO position.
Origin and Natural Habitat
Geographic Range
Dracaena cochinchinensis is distributed across southern China (southern Yunnan and south-western Guangxi provinces), Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. The species was first discovered in China by the botanist Xitao Cai in 1972 in Yunnan province. In its Chinese range, populations are found between approximately 21.5° and 23.6° N latitude.
Habitat Types
Unlike many other dragon tree species that grow in arid or semi-arid environments, Dracaena cochinchinensis is primarily found on sunny limestone cliffs and steep rocky slopes, at elevations ranging from 400 to 1,700 m (1,300 to 5,600 ft). In southern China, most recorded populations occur between 900 and 1,700 m (2,950 and 5,600 ft). The species favours exposed, well-drained positions on calcareous substrates, a habitat preference that distinguishes it sharply from forest-floor species such as Dracaena aletriformis.
This limestone cliff ecology is a key point for understanding the plant’s requirements: good drainage, mineral-rich but often thin soils, and strong light exposure characterise the natural growing conditions.
Botanical Description
Habit and Trunk
Dracaena cochinchinensis is an evergreen, tree-like plant that typically reaches 5 to 15 m (16 to 49 ft) in height. Mature specimens develop a branched crown architecture, with trunks that can attain up to 1 m (about 3 ft) in diameter. The bark is greyish white when young, becoming greyish brown with age, and remains smooth. The tips of actively growing branches show a characteristic reddish coloration.
The species grows extremely slowly, adding only about 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 in) per year under natural conditions, and roughly 23 to 29 cm (9 to 11 in) under cultivation. This slow growth, combined with a long lifespan, explains why the species is difficult to replace once populations are depleted.
Foliage
The leaves are crowded at the tips of branches, sessile, sword-shaped, leathery and dark green. They measure 30 to 100 cm (12 to 39 in) in length and 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 in) in width. The leaf bases are reddish and completely cover the internode. The overall effect is of neat, dense rosettes of stiff, strap-like leaves — a habit reminiscent of Dracaena draco but with a more slender and elegant bearing.
Flowers
The terminal inflorescence is branched and can exceed 40 cm (16 in) in length. The rachis is densely covered with papillose hairs. Flowers are borne in clusters of two to five, with pedicels 3 to 6 mm long. The perianth is milky white, 6 to 8 mm long, with a tube 1.5 to 2 mm long and lobes 5 to 6 mm. Filaments are flat, 0.5 to 0.7 mm wide, reddish brown and tuberculate towards the tip. In China, flowering occurs in March.
Fruits
The berries are orange, nearly spherical, 0.8 to 1.2 cm (about 0.3 to 0.5 in) in diameter, and contain one to three seeds. Fruiting takes place from July to August in the Northern Hemisphere.
Dragon’s Blood: Resin and Traditional Medicine
The most remarkable feature of Dracaena cochinchinensis is its capacity to produce dragon’s blood, a deep red resin known in Chinese as xue jie (血竭) or Long Xue Jie. This resin does not flow freely from the plant; rather, it accumulates in the xylem cells of old stems in response to mechanical damage or insect attack. Over time, the resin-rich pith hardens and can be extracted with ethanol. Only mature, perennial trees that have sustained damage over a prolonged period accumulate a collectible quantity of resin.
Medicinal Uses
In traditional Chinese medicine, dragon’s blood from Dracaena cochinchinensis is prescribed primarily to promote blood circulation and disperse blood stasis, especially for the treatment of traumatic injuries and pain. The resin is also a key ingredient in the well-known Chinese haemostatic preparation Yun Nan Bai Yao.
Modern pharmacological studies have identified a wide range of bioactivities, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic, antispasmodic, antithrombotic, antitumour, antidiabetic, antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. The resin also promotes skin repair and wound healing. The main bioactive compounds are oligomeric flavonoids, particularly loureirin A, loureirin B and loureirin C, along with dihydrochalcones, steroidal saponins and phenolic compounds.
Dragon’s Blood in Context
The name “dragon’s blood” applies to red resins obtained from plants belonging to four separate genera: Dracaena, Croton, Daemonorops and Pterocarpus. The Chinese pharmacopeia specifically recognises the resin from Dracaena cochinchinensis as the standard source. The discovery of this species in China during the 1970s provided a domestic alternative to resins that had previously been imported from Africa or Southeast Asian rattan palms.
Ecology
The extremely slow growth rate of Dracaena cochinchinensis limits its capacity for natural regeneration. The species grows on exposed limestone cliffs where recruitment conditions are challenging. Its wound-induced resin production is understood as a defensive response: when the stem is damaged, the plant channels resources into flavonoid biosynthesis, producing resin-rich tissue that protects against further pathogen invasion. Research has shown that this response involves the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) pathway, with fungal infection and wound moisture playing key roles in efficient resin formation.
The chromosome-level genome of Dracaena cochinchinensis was assembled in 2022, covering 1.21 Gb and encoding over 31,600 predicted protein-coding genes. Analysis revealed two ancient whole-genome duplications and significant expansion of gene families related to longevity and secondary metabolism, providing a molecular basis for the species’ exceptionally long life and its capacity to produce dragon’s blood.
Taxonomy and Naming
The genus name Dracaena comes from the Greek drakaina, meaning “female dragon”, a reference to the dragon’s blood resin produced by several members of the group. The specific epithet cochinchinensis refers to Cochinchina, the historical name for the southern region of Vietnam, where the species was first collected by João de Loureiro.
The species was originally described as Aletris cochinchinensis by Loureiro in 1790, then transferred to Dracaena by S.C. Chen in 1980. It has also been known as Dracaena loureiroi Gagnep. (a nomenclaturally illegitimate name that included Aletris cochinchinensis in its circumscription) and Pleomele cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr.
As noted above, POWO now places Dracaena cochinchinensis in the synonymy of Dracaena angustifolia (Medik.) Roxb., a broadly circumscribed species ranging from India and Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia to northern Australia. This lumping, adopted in 2024, is not followed by the Flora of China, by Chinese conservation authorities, or by the pharmacological literature. All published research on dragon’s blood from this species uses the name Dracaena cochinchinensis. Given the considerable morphological, ecological and phytochemical differences between the limestone dragon trees of southern China and the smaller understory shrubs included within Dracaena angustifolia sensu lato, this taxonomic decision remains debated.
Conservation Status
Dracaena cochinchinensis is considered a vulnerable and declining species across its range. In China, it has been listed as a national endangered plant since 1987 and is included in the List of National Key Protected Wild Plants at the second-highest grade of protection, which prohibits the harvest of wild specimens. Botanists estimate that only about 200,000 individuals survive in the wild in China, and the wild resource is becoming increasingly scarce due to habitat destruction, overexploitation for resin and the species’ extremely slow growth rate.
Four other species in the dragon tree group (Dracaena cinnabari, Dracaena draco, Dracaena ombet and Dracaena serrulata) are listed on the IUCN Red List. Populations of Dracaena cochinchinensis and the closely related Dracaena cambodiana are also sharply decreasing across their Asian range.
Cultivation
Hardiness
Dracaena cochinchinensis is a tropical to warm subtropical species. Although it grows at elevations up to 1,700 m in its native range, these montane habitats remain frost-free or experience only very brief and light frosts. USDA hardiness zones 10b to 11 are appropriate. The species should be considered strictly frost-tender in cultivation.
Light
In contrast with many other cultivated Dracaena species, Dracaena cochinchinensis is a full-sun to bright-light plant. Its natural habitat on exposed limestone cliffs means it is adapted to high light levels. In cultivation, a sunny, well-ventilated position is ideal.
Soil and Growing Medium
The species is adapted to well-drained, mineral-rich, calcareous substrates. In cultivation, a free-draining mix with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH is preferable. A blend incorporating limestone grit, pumice or perlite with a moderate organic component would replicate the natural growing conditions. Waterlogged or heavy clay soils should be avoided.
Watering
Moderate watering during the growing season is appropriate, allowing the substrate to dry between irrigations. The species tolerates dry periods better than waterlogging, consistent with its cliff-face habitat. Winter watering should be reduced significantly.
Container Growing
Given its frost sensitivity and slow growth, Dracaena cochinchinensis is well suited to container cultivation in all but the warmest climates. A large, deep pot with excellent drainage is recommended. The slow growth rate means that repotting is infrequently needed, but the weight of mature specimens should be planned for.
Garden Use
In tropical and warm subtropical gardens, Dracaena cochinchinensis can become a striking specimen tree over many years. Its branching habit and neat leaf rosettes give it an architectural quality reminiscent of Dracaena draco but with a more refined, slender profile. It is best placed in a prominent, sunny position where its habit can be appreciated.
Propagation
Seed
Propagation from fresh seed is the most common method. Seeds should be sown in a warm, well-drained medium. Germination is generally slow, consistent with the species’ overall growth rate.
Cuttings
Stem cuttings can be used to propagate the species, as with other arborescent Dracaena. Cuttings should be allowed to callus before being placed in a light, well-drained mix. Rooting is slow and requires patience.
Tissue Culture
Given the species’ conservation status and slow natural reproduction, tissue culture techniques have been developed for Dracaena cochinchinensis in China, allowing for more efficient multiplication for both reforestation and medicinal cultivation programmes.
Potential Problems
In cultivation, the main risks are overwatering and frost damage. Root rot from waterlogged substrates is the most common cause of failure. The species’ slow growth means that damage from cold or cultural errors is difficult to recover from. Mealybugs, spider mites and scale insects can affect the foliage, particularly under glass.
Ornamental Value
Dracaena cochinchinensis is primarily valued as a medicinal plant, but its ornamental qualities are considerable. The branched, tree-like habit with neat terminal rosettes of sword-shaped leaves creates a striking silhouette, and the species makes a handsome specimen in tropical gardens or as a container plant in conservatories and heated greenhouses. Its cultural significance as one of the world’s dragon’s blood trees — linking it historically to Dracaena draco of the Canary Islands, Dracaena cinnabari of Socotra and Dracaena ombet of the Horn of Africa — adds a layer of botanical interest for collectors.
Sources
Plants of the World Online (Kew) https://powo.science.kew.org/…
Flora of China (eFloras) http://www.efloras.org/…
World Flora Online https://www.worldfloraonline.org/…
GBIF — Global Biodiversity Information Facility https://www.gbif.org/…
References
Chen, S.C. 1980. Dracaena cochinchinensis. In: Wang, F.T. & Tang, T. (eds.), Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae 14: 276. Science Press, Beijing.
Gupta, D., Bleakley, B. & Gupta, R.K. 2008. Dragon’s blood: botany, chemistry and therapeutic uses. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 115(3): 361–380.
Jura-Morawiec, J. & Tulik, M. 2016. Dragon’s blood secretion and its ecological significance. Chemoecology 26: 101–105.
Loureiro, J. de. 1790. Flora Cochinchinensis 1: 204. Lisbon.
Zhengyi, W. & Raven, P.H. (eds.) 2000. Flora of China 24: 1–431. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.
Xu, M. et al. 2022. A chromosome-level genome assembly for Dracaena cochinchinensis reveals the molecular basis of its longevity and formation of dragon’s blood. Plant Journal 113(6): 1187–1203.
Fan, J.Y. et al. 2014. A systematic review of the botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological profile of Dracaena cochinchinensis, a plant source of the ethnomedicine “dragon’s blood”. Molecules 19(7): 10650–10669.
Plants of the World Online. Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C.Chen [as synonym of Dracaena angustifolia (Medik.) Roxb.]. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
World Flora Online. Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C.Chen. World Flora Online Consortium.