Canary Islands Dragon tree

Among its wonders, the Botanical Garden of Palermo houses a specimen of Dracaena draco, commonly known as the Dragon tree, an imposing plant that fascinates visitors with its history and unique characteristics.

Native to the Canary Islands, this species is known for its extraordinary longevity. It is estimated that some specimens, such as the one found in Tenerife, can exceed 800 years of age, making these trees true living monuments.

The Dragon Tree is distinguished by its massive trunk and characteristic dichotomous (two-branched) branches, from which tufts of linear, leathery leaves originate.

The flowers, which are greenish-white in colour and clustered in large racemes at the tips of the branches, turn into bright orange globular berries in autumn.

Sporadically, the plant also develops short aerial roots.

Introduced to Palermo between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Dracena draco has acclimatised perfectly. Today, centuries-old specimens of this species enrich the flora of the city's most important historic gardens, bearing witness to the beauty and resilience of a tree that combines history, science and art.

Its most fascinating feature is the resin that oozes from its bark. If the trunk is cut, the plant emits a deep red substance, known as “dragon's blood”, which crystallises on contact with the air. Over the centuries, this extraordinary resource has had various uses. In ancient times, it was used to make “dragon's blood red”, a colouring agent used in the production of paints, cosmetics and pigments for art. Today, its main use is in stringed instrument making, where it is used to obtain the distinctive amber-red varnish that covers many stringed instruments, particularly violins. In addition, “dragon's blood” is also known for its astringent and haemostatic properties.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List classifies Dracaena draco as “endangered”. This conservation status is due to the drastic reduction in wild populations in its native range, caused by habitat loss and other factors. Specimens found in contexts such as botanical gardens and historic gardens are therefore essential for ex situ conservation (outside the natural habitat), acting as a genetic reserve and contributing to research and the preservation of this species.