Time to prune and encourage branching
A well-lit Dragon Tree that's grown into tall bare canes simply needs cutting back to branch out.
Diagnosis
Time to prune and encourage branching
What's happening
Dragon Trees naturally grow upward on a single cane and shed lower leaves, so over the years even a healthy, well-lit plant becomes tall and top-heavy with bare stems and a leaf tuft only at the very top. The plant won't branch on its own — it keeps extending from the tip unless you intervene.
How to fix it
In spring, cut the cane back to the height you want with clean, sharp snips, cutting straight across just above a leaf node or old leaf scar. Within a few weeks the plant pushes out two or three new shoots just below the cut, giving you a fuller, branched crown. Don't toss the cut top: it can be rooted as a cutting in fresh, moist mix to make a second plant.
What fixes it
- Clean pruning snips — Clean, sharp snips make a precise cut across the thick cane so it branches cleanly instead of crushing.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Dragon Tree care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this