About Trey Tarrant Expertise I can answer questions about plant identification, plant care, plant pest management, landscaping, and general gardening questions. Please post a picture of the plant you wish to identify, if possible. If you say something like, "I've got this plant and it's green with long leaves and white flowers" and do not include a picture, chances are I won't be able to help you. I may not be able to help with plants that are not grown in the Southeast/ Eastern US, but you're welcome to try me.
Experience Landscaping for 10 years. Horticulture Instructor at Lawson State Community College for 7 years.
Education/Credentials M.S. in Horticulture from Auburn University.
Can you please help me ID this tree-like houseplant? I rescued it from an interior bathroom at my office a few years back, and have nursed it along. It has recently begun dropping its leaves rapidly and/or the leaves are drying out and shriveling up, and I'm about to read it its last rites unless I can figure out what to do with it. I have moved it around to various amounts of light, to no avail. My apologies for the poor picture quality; hopefully you can make out what's left of the plant.
Answer That is Dracaena marginata, refered to as a "Madagascar dragon tree" in some texts. I don't know why it seems unhealthy. It is tolerant of a wide range of light levels, but the more light the better in general. It likes to dry out between waterings. If your home is cool during the winter, it may not grow until Summer. I would suggest that you put it outside in a bit of shade as soon as the danger of frost has passed.
![](javascript:displayImg('http://z.about.com/w/experts/Identifying-Unknown-Plants-722/2009/02/Unidentified-dying-object.jpg','Unidentified dying object','Three "tree" stalks with dwindling leaves'))