From the tropical forests of Central Africa comes one of the most architecturally distinctive houseplants in cultivation. Dracaena masoniana was known for decades simply as Sansevieria 'Mason's Congo' — a tribute to Maurice Mason, the British succulent grower who brought it to wider attention before the plant even had a formal scientific name. Its reclassification into Dracaena following genetic studies changed nothing about its character: a semi-succulent rhizomatous perennial that produces massive, paddle-shaped leaves, dark green and dappled with lighter mottling, each one resembling the dorsal fin of a slow-moving whale.

It grows 3 to 5 feet tall and is among the most forgiving plants for an indoor grower to take on. Allow the growing medium to dry out thoroughly between waterings — this is not a plant that suffers from neglect, but it will not tolerate standing water. Temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees suit it well. Below 55 degrees, growth stalls and cold drafts can cause permanent damage. Repot only when roots visibly escape the drainage holes; it prefers a snug container.