Dracaena reflexa (commonly called song of India or song of Jamaica) is a tree native to Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, and other nearby islands of the Indian Ocean. It is widely grown as an ornamental plant and houseplant, valued for its richly coloured, evergreen leaves, and thick, irregular stems. Description While it may reach a height of 4–5 m, rarely 6 m in ideal, protected locations, D. reflexa is usually much smaller, especially when grown as a houseplant. It is slow-growing and upright in habit, tending to an oval shape with an open crown. The lanceolate leaves are simple, spirally arranged, 5–20 cm long and 1.5–5 cm broad at the base, with a parallel venation and entire margin; they grow in tight whorls and are a uniform dark green. The flowers are small, clustered, usually white and extremely fragrant, appearing in mid winter. Neither the flowers nor the fruit are especially showy. D. reflexa var. angustifolia (syn. D. marginata) differs in having a magenta tint to its flowers, a shrubby habit, and olive green leaves. Taxonomy Dracaena reflexa was first described by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in 1786. It has been placed in several other related genera, including Cordyline and Pleomele. Varieties , the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families accepts the following varieties, most described from Madagascar: Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia Baker – western Indian Ocean islands Dracaena reflexa var. bakeri (Scott Elliot) H.Perrier – south-east Madagascar Dracaena reflexa var. brevituba H.Perrier – central Madagascar Dracaena reflexa var. condensata H.Perrier – south-east Madagascar Dracaena reflexa var. lanceolata H.Perrier – Madagascar Dracaena reflexa var. linearifolia Ayres ex Baker – Mascarenes, Madagascar Dracaena reflexa var. nervosa H.Perrier – Madagascar Dracaena reflexa var. occidentalis H.Perrier – west and south-west Madagascar Dracaena reflexa var. parvifolia Thouars ex H.Perrier – east Madagascar Dracaena reflexa var. reflexa – north-east Mozambique, western Indian Ocean islands Dracaena reflexa var. salicifolia (Regel) Baker – Madagascar Dracaena reflexa var. subcapitata H.Perrier – east Madagascar Dracaena reflexa var. subelliptica H.Perrier – east Madagascar Cultivation and uses Dracaena reflexa is a popular ornamental plant, both in the landscape and the home. It can be enjoyed as a specimen plant, accent, or pruned to create a border. Several cultivars have been selected, particularly variegated clones with cream and yellow-green margins. It performs well as a houseplant, tolerating infrequent waterings. It prefers bright, filtered light, without direct sun exposure, restricted outdoors to zones 10–11. It has