Although the Dragon Tree (Dracaena draco) is endemic to the Canary Islands, Madeira and Cape Verde, only a few of these trees can be found growing naturally. This species grows very slowly, commonly taking 10 years to grow 2 or 3 feet high. Once the tree reaches this height, it is capable of flowering, although it only happens once every 15 years. When the dragon tree flowers, its trunk splits - a characteristic that allows botanists to estimate the age of the tree based on the number of times the trunk has divided. As of 2010, the oldest known dragon tree is approximately 650 years old. The tree contains a marvelously red resin called Dragon’s Blood, which has been used for a variety of purposes throughout history. Starting in the first century AD, Dragon’s Blood was used as a dye and medicine to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal problems.
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