Dracaena is not a new plant to Bangladesh. Various types of Dracaena trees are commonly seen in many nurseries and homes across the country. Particularly, as an ornamental indoor plant, Dracaena has gained popularity in Bangladesh over the past few decades. Belonging to the Asparagaceae family, Dracaena's beauty lies more in its foliage than its flowers. Globally, there are approximately 200 species within the Dracaena genus. The "Bangladesh Plant Dictionary" lists seven species of Dracaena found in the country, while the eleventh volume of the "Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh" describes three species.
Beyond these documented species, a unique Dracaena variety was observed near the sun dial in Dhaka's Baldha Garden. Its green leaves are speckled with numerous tiny, gold dust-like spots, hence its English name: Gold Dust Dracaena or Spotted Dracaena. Lacking a Bengali name, "Sona Dhulo Dracaena" (Golden Dust Dracaena) could be a fitting adaptation for its inclusion in the country's plant records.
In the 2001 reprint of the book "Tropical Garden Plants" from India, three images of Dracaena were featured. All displayed yellowish speckled leaves, varying in the density of spots, with one exhibiting a continuous broad yellow stripe along the midrib. The author identified this species as Gold Dust Dracaena, with the botanical name Dracaena godseffiana, which botanists have since revised to Dracaena surculosa. The book showcased three cultivars of Gold Dust Dracaena: Florida Beauty and Friedmann, along with an unnamed one. The Florida Beauty cultivar received the Royal Horticultural Society's Golden Merit award in London for its exceptional ornamental value. Currently, two accepted varieties of Gold Dust Dracaena are Dracaena surculosa var. maculata and Dracaena surculosa var. surculosa, each with distinct leaf characteristics.
Having long observed the plain green-leaved Dracaena in Bangladesh, the quest for this variegated Gold Dust Dracaena began after seeing its pictures. Various nurseries in Dhaka city were explored. Around 2006, the Gold Dust Dracaena was first spotted at the Krishi Bid Upokoron Nursery, near the present-day Krishibid Institution in Farmgate, an area that once housed many nurseries. Subsequently, the plant was found in a few other nurseries. However, unlike other Dracaena varieties, the Gold Dust Dracaena is not as commonly seen. This is likely because it is not native to Bangladesh, originating from West-Central Africa, with its native range extending from Guinea to Congo. From there, it has traveled to various countries, including Bangladesh.
The Gold Dust Dracaena is a branched, perennial, evergreen shrub or small tree. It grows taller when planted in the ground or garden and remains shorter in pots. Its stem resembles that of a reed or slender cane, with a green color. The leaves are glossy green with golden-yellow speckles, have pointed tips, smooth edges, and are ovate or elliptical in shape. In spring, the plant produces clusters of fragrant white flowers on stalks, similar to tuberose. The calyx is greenish-white. The fruit is round with a smooth skin, green when unripe, turning bright red when mature, and ripens in summer. The fruit has a diameter of approximately two centimeters. New plants can be propagated by planting stem cuttings in the soil, with spring to summer being the ideal time for propagation. Roots grow from the nodes below the soil, and leaves emerge from the nodes above. The plant thrives in semi-shaded locations and prefers consistently moist, but not waterlogged, soil.
