Regrowing a Dragon Tree After Breaking the Crown

Snapping off the top of a dragon tree (Dracaena marginata) is alarming, but the plant will recover—and you can even propagate the broken piece.

Will It Grow a New Crown?

Yes. The remaining stem will produce several new shoots near the cut. For a more attractive shape, allow only 2–3 of these new tops to develop; remove the rest.

Propagate the Broken Top

1. Strip the lower leaves from the severed crown.
2. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone.
3. Plant it in a fresh pot of well-draining soil.
4. Keep warm and lightly moist; there's about a 70% chance it will root and grow into a new plant.

This is a great opportunity to create a second plant while the original rejuvenates.