The selection and supply of floral materials in Dangwa flower market is mostly limited to locally grown and the supply could be irratic depending on the weather. Last week when I went to the market, I did not see anything uncommon so I ended up foraging in the ‘green’ sections of the market.

There are a lot of ‘green’ vendors in Dangwa flower market. They sell all sorts of leaves, vines, twigs, and other curiosities from the forest. In the following weeks, I will create leaf arrangements from Dangwa and share them with you. In these days of global economic crunch, greens are economically viable and offer interesting substitue to fresh flower arrangements.

Economically speaking, my fifty pesos went a long way as you can see in the picture below. The branches of dracaena with full leaves sell for 3 for 10 pesos.

In the right volume and size, greens can be as effective as flowers in a room.

In the right volume and size, greens can be as effective as flowers in a room.

‘Song of Jamaica’
or Dracaena Reflexa is a branching and climbing, semi-woody, perennial plant that grows up to 5 meters tall. Stem is cylindrical, semi-woody to 5 cm in diameter, and densely covered with leaves. The lanceolate leaves are simple, spirally arranged, 5–20 cm long and 1.5-5 cm broad at the base, with a parallel venation and entire margin; they grow in tight whorls and are a uniform dark green. The flowers are white with rather long lobes. It is native to South Asia and recently introduced to the Philippines.

Dracaena reflexa is a popular ornamental plant, used for landscape and interiors. It can be enjoyed as a specimen plant, accent, or pruned to create a border. Several cultivars have been selected, particularly variegated clones with cream and yellow-green margins. It performs well as a houseplant, tolerating infrequent waterings. It prefers bright, filtered light, without direct sun exposure, restricted outdoors to zones 10–11. It has average water needs and should be fertilized bi-weekly when actively growing. Although it can survive in relatively low light levels, the plant may grow spindly if given insufficient light. It can be propagated via herbaceous stem cuttings.

Traditional medicine practitioners of Madagascar have long believed Dracaena reflexa to cure malarial symptoms, poisoning, dysentery, diarrhea, dysmenorrhea, and to be useful as an antipyretic and hemostatic agent. The leaves and bark are mixed with parts of a number of other native plants and brewed into a herbal tea.

I like the way the leaves of this dracaena plant grow in a spiral movement. The leaves are leathery tough and have the architectural look.

I like the way the leaves of this dracaena plant grow in a spiral movement. The leaves are leathery tough and have the architectural look.

The 'Song of Jamaica' adds cool color and texture in the beige room.

The 'Song of Jamaica' adds cool color and texture in the beige room.