| Snake plant | Information |
|---|---|
| Common names: | snake plant, mother-in-law's tongue, bowstring hemp |
| Botanical name: | Dracaena trifasciata (syn. Sansevieria trifasciata, S. zeylanica) |
| Family: | asparagus (Asparagaceae) |
| Plant type: | evergreen perennial succulent |
| Height: | 75cm (30in) |
| Spread: | 30cm (12in) |
| Aspect: | bright indirect light |
| Humidity: | low to average |
| Temperature: | 10 to 26°C (50 to 80°F) |
| Hardiness: | H1B |
| Difficulty: | easy |
Built to withstand heat and drought in its native African habitat, the snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata) is one of the best houseplants for people who forget to water their plants. Also tolerant of a range of light levels, as well as draughts and dry air, it is by far one of the easiest indoor plants.
As well as being almost bulletproof, it offers lots of character. From dense rosettes of solid, stiff leaves, it grows upwards, forming a cluster of swords that can reach 2 metres high in the wild. These grey-green leaves are marked with bands of dark emerald, creating a reptilian look, hence the plant's common name, snake plant.
It is an evergreen perennial succulent that hails from the dry tropical biome of Central Africa. D. trifasciata can be spotted in several of Rousseau's legendary jungle paintings, and this perhaps reflects that fact that the French painter never actually visited a jungle, since his forest scenes look like lush, damp forest, while snake plants grow in the dry scrub and dry forest of sub-Saharan Africa. There, their leaves are a sought-after snack of the black rhino, and their fibres are harvested to make a hemp for bowstring, rope, and textiles.
The tough, leathery coats of their leaves allow them to store moisture in that dry African heat; added to this, the plant's stomata (pores) close in the morning to conserve moisture, before opening again at night. This enables D. trifasciata to cope with erratic waterers, radiators, and dehumidifiers. Being so resilient, it can live for years. Although it is an annoying weed in the heat of Hawaii and Florida, it does brilliantly as a British houseplant, forgiving little to no TLC. In the right conditions, with good care, however, it may send up spikes of ivory-white flowers in summer, colour well, and grow taller than it otherwise would. It is worth giving it some care because the snake plant's architectural shape is impressive when it matures healthily, soaring and bulking into a solid tower of green blades.
Where is the best place to put a snake plant?
Highly tolerant, it will put up with all sorts of conditions, but prefers bright indirect light and low to average humidity. In shade, its beautifully striped leaves may revert to all green, but it will grow; it will also tolerate some direct sun. Disliking high levels of air moisture, it won't thrive in bathrooms or kitchens.
Do snake plants purify the air?
Dracaena trifasciata is often heralded as an excellent air-purifying plant, but, truth be told, it will only make a difference in a heavily polluted home (for instance, beside a main road) and if there are several other air-purifying plants in the room.
How to grow a snake plant
- Light: Bright indirect light is preferable; east or west-facing rooms, for instance.
- Temperature: Keep your snake plant above 10°C; it will struggle in chilly conditions. Ideally, it prefers to be kept above 15°C.
- Water: Like most succulents, the snake plant loathes overwatering, with which it can succumb to root rot. During spring and summer, only water moderately, when the upper half of the compost feels dry; though, being extremely drought tolerant, it can be allowed to dry out completely before being watered and will not sulk. Water very sparingly in winter.
- Food: Give a liquid feed monthly during spring and summer.
- Humidity: A room with low to average moisture levels is best.
- Container: Choose a solid, heavy pot, since the plant is tall and can topple easily, especially when the compost is dry.
- Re-pot: If the leaves begin to brown, your snake plant may need repotting. Use a free-draining cactus compost and a container that is only slightly bigger than the current one (because Dracaena trifasciata likes its roots to be slightly constricted).
- Propagation: New plants are easy to produce. Either plunge 5cm pieces of leaf into a pot of compost (they must point in the same direction they were growing) or – when repotting – prize off sections of plant (with roots attached) and pot them up.
- Safety: Snake plants are toxic to cats and dogs, if eaten.
Which snake plants to grow
The main species, Dracaena trifasciata (syn. Sansevieria trifasciata; S. zeylanica) has grey-green leaves banded with rich emerald, but there are several varieties with different colouring or height. 'Moonshine' has silvery green leaves without much veining. 'Black Diamond' is dark green. 'Hahnii' is a dwarf form. The variegated snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata var. laurentii) is the most widely grown form, loved for the striking golden-cream edging of its leaves.
Classed as different species, but still referred to as snake plants, Sansevieria metallica has dusky silver leaves, and the African spear (or cylindrical snake plant), Sansevieria cylindrica (syn. Dracaena angolensis), is otherworldly, growing in narrow, upright spikes.
5 Other easy succulents for the home
Usually hailing from sun-scorched regions with low rainfall, succulents suit south or west-facing rooms and people who forget to water their houseplants. Here are five that are long-lived and easy to look after:
String of pearls (Curio rowleyanus AGM) - Suitable for a hanging pot, this distinctive South African trailing plant is a tumble of spherical pea-like leaves.
African milk tree (Euphorbia trigona) - An incredible slow-growing succulent shrub that forms an architectural gaggle of pillars via its upright stems and branches.
Flower dust plant (Kalanchoe pumila AGM) - An adorable Madagascan houseplant with silver-grey leaves and small pink flowers in the autumn.
Jade plant (Crassula ovata AGM) - Resembling a stout miniature tree with fleshy red-tipped green leaves, this African gem is said to draw luck into the home.
Donkey’s tail (Sedum morganianum AGM) - A tumble of dense glaucous-blue leaves on 30-centimetre stems, this Mexican succulent is ideal for a hanging pot.
Like most indoor succulents, their essential care involves being placed in a bright position and being subjected to minimal moisture. A humid environment won’t suit them, and they should only be watered when their compost has dried out. Sit the plant in a basin of water for half an hour to an hour, then allow the water to drain away; never leave succulents sitting in water for long periods.
