Caña India
Dracaena fragrans
Native Region
Tropical Africa
Max Height
6-15 meters (20-50 feet)
Family
Asparagaceae
Conservation
LC
Uses
Distribution in Costa Rica
Legend
Elevation
0-2000m
Regions
- San José
- Alajuela
- Heredia
- Cartago
- Guanacaste
- Puntarenas
- Limón
Season
Flowering
Jan-Mar, Dec
Fruiting
Feb-Apr
Caña India (Corn Plant)
The Caña India (Dracaena fragrans), though native to tropical Africa, has become so deeply integrated into Costa Rican rural life that it defines the country's agricultural landscape. Rows of these tall, palm-like plants mark property boundaries, form living fences, and during the dry season release an intoxicating sweet fragrance from their night-blooming flowers.
Quick Reference
- Scientific Name
- Dracaena fragrans
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Max Height
- 6-15 m (20-50 ft)
- Trunk Diameter
- Up to 30 cm
- Conservation
- Least Concern
- Origin
- Tropical Africa
iNaturalist Observations
Community-powered species data
12000
Observations
186
Observers
📸 Photo Gallery
Photos sourced from iNaturalist community science database. View all observations →↗
Taxonomy and Classification
- Dracaena: From Greek "drakaina" meaning female dragon (for red resin) - fragrans: Latin for "fragrant," referring to the sweet-scented flowers - Caña India: Spanish for "Indian cane" (despite African origin) - Also called "Corn Plant" for leaf resemblance to corn
Common Names
| Language/Region | Common Name(s) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Corn Plant, Dragon Tree | Leaf shape / Dracaena |
| Spanish (Costa Rica) | Caña India, Caña de India | Indian cane |
| Spanish (general) | Palo de Agua, Tronco de Brasil | Water stick / Brazil trunk |
| Portuguese | Pau-d'água, Dracena | Water stick |
| French | Dragonnier parfumé | Fragrant dragon tree |
Physical Description
Overall Form
Caña India grows as an unbranched or sparingly branched tree-like plant with a distinctive rosette of long, strap-shaped leaves at the top. The thick, woody stem stores water, and the plant can reach impressive heights over many years. Multiple trunks often grow together when planted as cuttings, creating the characteristic living fence appearance.
Distinctive Features
Leaves
- Type: Simple, sessile (no petiole)
- Size: 50-100 cm long, 7-10 cm wide
- Shape: Linear-lanceolate, strap-like
- Color: Glossy dark green
- Arrangement: Spiral rosette at stem tip
- Variegated forms: Yellow/white striped cultivars
Trunk
- Type: Woody, unbranched when young
- Color: Gray, marked with leaf scars
- Growth: Can branch after flowering
- Texture: Smooth with ring-like scars
- Feature: Water storage capacity
Flowers
- Size: Individual flowers tiny (1 cm)
- Color: White to pale pink
- Structure: Large panicles (30-90 cm)
- Fragrance: Intensely sweet at night
- Timing: Dry season (December-March)
- Nectar: Abundant, attracts moths
Fruits
- Type: Berry
- Size: 1-2 cm diameter
- Color: Orange-red when ripe
- Seeds: 1-3 per fruit
- Wildlife: Eaten by birds
- Propagation: Usually vegetative
The Magical Night Fragrance
Costa Rica's Seasonal Perfume
During the dry season, flowering Caña India releases one of Costa Rica's most memorable fragrances. The small white flowers open at night and release an intensely sweet, almost honey-like scent that can be detected from hundreds of meters away. For many Costa Ricans, this fragrance is deeply connected to memories of rural life and the December-February season.
Fragrance Characteristics
- Sweet, honey-like notes
- Detectable from great distance
- Strongest at night
- Peaks in evening hours
- Lessens in daylight
- Associated with dry season
Ecological Purpose
- Attracts nocturnal moths
- Hawk moths primary pollinators
- Night-blooming strategy
- Nectar reward abundant
- Cross-pollination promoted
- Seasonal timing with pollinators
Living Fences: A Costa Rican Tradition
Cercas Vivas
The living fence (cerca viva) is a cornerstone of sustainable Costa Rican agriculture. Caña India, along with Poró and other species, creates fences that never need replacing, provide wildlife corridors, prevent erosion, mark boundaries, and contribute to the farm's productivity—all from cuttings simply stuck in the ground.
How It Works
- Cut mature stems into 1-2m sections
- Plant directly in ground
- Roots develop rapidly
- New leaves sprout from top
- Grows into mature plant
- Lasts indefinitely
Benefits Over Wire Fences
- No purchase cost
- Never needs replacement
- Provides shade for livestock
- Prevents erosion
- Wildlife corridor
- Carbon storage
- Produces flowers/fragrance
Landscape Impact
Flying over Costa Rica's Central Valley or driving through rural areas, you'll see countless lines of Caña India marking property boundaries, lining roads, and dividing pastures. This introduced African plant has become so essential to the Costa Rican landscape that it's hard to imagine the countryside without it.
Distribution in Costa Rica
Caña India is found throughout Costa Rica wherever there is human settlement. It's most abundant in the Central Valley and mid-elevation agricultural zones, but also thrives in coastal areas and even in some montane regions. You'll rarely find it truly wild—it's almost always associated with cultivation.
Regional Distribution
| Location | Province | Use | Abundance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Valley | San José/Heredia | Living fences, gardens | Very common |
| Coffee zone | Alajuela/Cartago | Property boundaries | Very common |
| Guanacaste lowlands | Guanacaste | Pasture fences | Common |
| Caribbean slope | Limón | Gardens, farms | Common |
| Monteverde area | Puntarenas | Windbreaks, fences | Occasional |
Indoor Plant Fame
World's Most Popular Houseplant
While Costa Ricans know Caña India as a fence post, the rest of the world knows it as one of the most popular indoor plants. It thrives in low light, tolerates neglect, and purifies indoor air. NASA research famously included it among plants most effective at removing indoor air pollutants.
Indoor Benefits
- Tolerates low light
- Survives irregular watering
- Removes formaldehyde
- Filters benzene
- Adds oxygen
- Easy propagation
Popular Cultivars
- 'Massangeana': Yellow-striped leaves
- 'Lindenii': White-edged leaves
- 'Victoria': Compact, variegated
- 'Janet Craig': All-green, tough
- 'Lemon Lime': Bright yellow margins
Growing Information
Cultivation Requirements
| Factor | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Climate | Tropical to subtropical | Very adaptable |
| Temperature | 18-30°C (64-86°F) | Frost sensitive |
| Rainfall | 1000-2500mm annually | Drought tolerant |
| Soil | Any well-drained | Very forgiving |
| Light | Part shade to full sun | Tolerates deep shade |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings | Extremely easy |
Propagation
Caña India may be the easiest plant in the world to propagate. Simply cut a section of stem (any length from 15cm to 2m), stick it in soil, and it will root. This works with no rooting hormone, in any season, in nearly any soil. This ease of propagation is why it became so popular for living fences.
Interesting Facts
Similar Species
| Species | Difference | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Dracaena marginata | Thinner leaves, more branching | Indoor/ornamental |
| Cordyline fruticosa (Ti) | Red/purple leaves common | Ornamental |
| Yucca elephantipes | Stiff pointed leaves | Gardens, fences |
| Dracaena reflexa | Smaller, more branching | Indoor plant |
References and Resources
| Resource | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| iNaturalist | Observations | https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/75842-Dracaena-fragrans |
| GBIF | Distribution Data | https://www.gbif.org/species/2769516 |
| NASA Clean Air Study | Research | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19930073077 |
