Dracaena Tarzan
Dracaena marginata 'Tarzan' — The Spiky Broad-Leaf Dragon Tree
Light
Low to medium indirect. Performs well under office fluorescents and is slightly more light-tolerant than standard Marginata, handling brief direct sun.
Water
Every 2–3 weeks, less in winter. Its thin canes store less water than thick-trunked dracaenas, so don't let it go bone dry. Fluoride in tap water causes brown tips — use filtered water where possible.
Humidity
Tolerates low office humidity without issue.
Temperature
16–27°C (60–80°F). Cold-sensitive below 13°C — avoid placement near loading docks or exterior doors.
Difficulty
Easy
Sizes
Floor, single cane (120–150cm) · Floor, multi-cane grouping (120–180cm) · Statement, multi-cane grouping (180cm+)
Dracaena marginata 'Tarzan' looks nothing like the fragrans-type dracaenas Benji's installs elsewhere in an office — it grows on thin woody canes topped with dense, spiky rosettes of broad, dark leaves, a stiffer and stockier take on the classic Marginata form. The broader leaves and upright posture are what set it apart from a standard Marginata as well as from the arching corn-plant leaves of 'Elegance', 'Gold Star', and 'Michiko'. It's sold as single- or multi-cane floor plants at 4–6 feet and grows more slowly, holding its shape longer between visits.
In the Office
Tarzan performs well under office fluorescents and is slightly more light-tolerant than a standard Marginata, handling brief direct sun without issue. Its thinner canes store less water than the thick-trunked fragrans types, so it shouldn't be allowed to go bone dry between waterings. Keep it away from loading docks and exterior doors — like other Marginata types, it's sensitive to cold drafts below 13°C.
Why Choose This Plant
Benefits for Your Office
- Broad, dark, spiky rosettes give a bolder, sturdier look than a standard Marginata while keeping the same narrow floor footprint
- Slightly more light-tolerant than standard Marginata, including brief direct sun
- Slower growth than standard Marginata means it holds its shape longer between service visits
- Available as single- or multi-cane groupings, giving flexibility for narrow corridors or fuller feature corners
Where to Place It
Office Placement Ideas
- 1
Corridors and tight corners away from loading docks or exterior doors — cold drafts below 13°C damage its leaves
- 2
Reception and lobby areas as a single-cane specimen — the spiky, dark rosette gives a bolder look than a standard Marginata in the same footprint
- 3
Spaces that get brief direct sun, such as near a window — it tolerates more light than a standard Marginata without complaint
How to Care for It
Care Tips for Office Environments
- Lower leaves drop on their own — just clean up the fallen debris from the pot surface
- If a cane gets leggy, cut it back; the rosette from the top can even be rooted into a new plant
- Check the undersides of the leaves for spider mites at every visit — they're harder to spot on Tarzan's broader, darker leaves than on a standard Marginata
- Keep it away from loading docks and exterior doors; it's cold-sensitive below 13°C like other Marginata types
Want Dracaena Tarzan in your office?
Our team will recommend the right variety and size for your space, deliver and install it, and keep it thriving with ongoing care.