Variegated Dragon Tail Plant

Leaf Detail Portrait

Rhaphidophora decursiva 'Variegated'

Variegated Dragon Tail Plant

Quick Facts

growth HabitClimbing on aerial roots
mature SizeLarge (with support)
lightBright indirect light
humidityHigh humidity (60-75%)
temperature18-27°C
difficultyModerate
growth SpeedSlow
View Care Guide
Part of the Rhaphidophora decursiva familyVariegated Sport££££ · CollectorLowChimeric variegated sport mutation of Rhaphidophora decursiva.

Morphology

leaf ShapeLarge, deeply lobed, pinnatifidFoliage deeply lobed in a feather-like pattern, but not cut all the way to the central vein. at maturity
leaf Length20-35 cm
leaf Width15-28 cm
petiole ColorGreen, cream-streaked
venationProminent, disrupted by variegated sectors
textureSemi-glossy
variegationChimericVariegation caused by a cell mutation. Often produces high contrast but can be unstable and revert to all-green. (unstableVariegation that is prone to disappearing (reverting to solid green) if lighting conditions are poor or if not pruned.) irregular cream-white sectors across the deeply lobed leaf blade — propagates true only from a cutting taken at a variegated node
growth HabitClimbing

About

Rhaphidophora decursiva — the 'Dragon Tail Plant' known for its large, deeply lobed, pinnatifid mature leaves — has a variegated sport carrying irregular cream-white sectors across the dramatically dissected leaf blade. Mature, deeply lobed leaves only develop once the plant reaches sufficient size and climbs, so juvenile plants show a much simpler, less fenestrated leaf shape than the mature form.

Market Analysis

Auction History & Retail Data

Historical eBay auction metrics and live retailer listings updated weekly.

No eBay auction history available yet. Data is collected automatically as sales appear on eBay UK.

Before You Buy

Shared checklist for Rhaphidophora decursiva and its cultivated forms

  • Ensure there is at least one healthy node present — a cutting without a node cannot produce new growth
  • For variegated forms, check that the variegation pattern appears on the newest growth and shows no signs of reversion to green
  • Inspect the underside of leaves for spider mites (fine webbing or stippling) which are common on pothos-family plants
  • Confirm the cutting has visible roots or a healthy node before purchasing — unrooted cuttings require propagation experience to succeed

Propagation Guide

Growing More Plants

Shared across every form of Rhaphidophora decursiva — see this form's own Morphology for variegation-specific propagation notes.

Methods
Stem cuttingNode cutting
Difficulty
Moderate
Time to Establish

4-7 months

Care Guide

Growing Conditions

General care shared across all forms of Rhaphidophora decursiva — cultivated forms may need brighter light or higher humidity than the plain species; check this form's Quick Facts above.

Substrate

Well-draining mix: 40% perlite, 40% potting compost, 20% orchid bark.

Watering

Water when the top 3–4 cm is dry. These are generally forgiving and will tolerate slight drought better than overwatering.

Humidity

50–70% preferred. Most varieties in this group are more adaptable to typical indoor conditions than true aroids.

Fertilising

Balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength every 2 weeks in spring and summer. Monthly in winter.

Repotting

Every 12–18 months when root-bound. These vining plants grow quickly and may need annual repotting in peak years.

Common Problems

Problem

Yellowing leaves

Cause

Overwatering or too little light

Fix

Allow to dry more between waterings; move to a brighter position

Problem

Loss of variegation (for variegated forms)

Cause

Insufficient light causing reversion to green

Fix

Move to a brighter position — variegated leaves need more light to maintain their pattern

Problem

Root rot

Cause

Overwatering or compacted substrate

Fix

Repot into fresh well-draining substrate; reduce watering frequency

Retail Price?The average price across tracked UK retailers (nurseries and specialty stores).
Not tracked
Not currently stocked by tracked UK retailers
Market Trend?Calculated by comparing average auction sales from the past 30 days against the preceding 60 days.
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Not enough history to calculate a trend

How prices are calculated: The AA Price uses online sold listings converted to GBP at current exchange rates, excluding extreme outliers to ensure a fair-value guide. Falls back to UK retail average when auction data is unavailable.

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