Sometimes called Gold Dust Dracaena, Spotted Dracaena or Japanese Bamboo, Dracaena surculosa looks as though someone has flicked gold paint across every leaf. Its glossy, pointed foliage is speckled with cream and gold, held in neat tiers along slender stems that give it an airy, almost bamboo feel. Native to the tropical forests of West Africa, it grows slowly into a bushy, branching little shrub, sending up fresh shoots from its base as it settles in.

It's a lovely choice for a bright shelf, desk or windowsill, and really comes into its own dotted among plainer green plants where those speckles can shine. Give it good light and it rewards you: the brighter the spot, the crisper and more golden the markings become.

Care at a glance

Light: Bright, indirect light, with a little gentle morning or evening sun. Too dark a spot will fade the speckles.

Water: When the top third of the soil has dried out, a little less in autumn and winter. It hates sitting in soggy compost.

Humidity: Happy in average rooms. A pebble tray helps if your home runs very dry.

Temperature: Between 15 and 24°C, away from cold draughts.

Feed: Houseplant feed every fourth water in spring and summer, every sixth in the cooler months.

Pet note: Best kept away from curious pets, as it can cause vomiting and nausea if chewed.

As a living plant, each one is unique, so size and leaf markings will vary from one to the next. Yours will be one of a kind.