More than one plant can come to mind when you hear the name “Snake Plant.” The name can be confusing when referring to a specific plant because it is commonly used to refer to a wide range of Sansevieria species.
There are also species that exist in many cultivars, each of which looks very different from the others. However, the Sansevieria species has a wide range of body types. As they are tolerant of their natural environment and simple to cultivate, snake plants are a great choice.
For its thick, upright leaves, which resemble a tongue, this plant is also known as “Mother-in-tongue” laws. This article will cover eleven varieties of snake plants that are great for indoor gardens. We’ve also given helpful advice for cultivating and maintaining each. Let’s go!
What are the Different Kinds of Snake Plants?
There are already around seventy different types of snake plants recognized. But just a select few have made it as variety in our homes, despite extensive attempts at breeding for diversity. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most common species and subspecies:
1. Sansevieria Trifasciata
Sansevieria trifasciata, a native of the tropics of Africa, is the most well-known and widely grown of all houseplant species. It has large leaves that are marbled with shades of green. Undoubtedly, you’ve come across the ‘Laurentii‘ variety. It’s a lot like the original but with a more ornamental yellow-green edging on the leaves.
2. Sansevieria Cylindrica
The striking resemblance to a snake due to its cylindrical form, these plants are now becoming part of our interiors. They are originally from the dry savannahs located south of the Sahara and are typically a pale green or bluish-green with dark green horizontal lines.
The ‘Variegata’ variant is very similar to the original wild form, only slightly more greenish-yellow. Unlike other Sansevieria cylindrica, the leaves of the ‘Boncel’ cultivar spread to the side in a fan formation rather than growing straight up.
Some of the wide varieties of this species available on the market now include vertical leaf cuttings, interwoven varieties, capped specimens in a rainbow of colors, and many others. All of these combinations, however, are only the original thoughts of marketing specialists and not true species or varieties.
3. Sansevieria Francisii
The leaves of this species are relatively cylindrical in shape, but they shoot upward, nearly like miniature stems. When the trunk-like structures get too lengthy to hold erect, the plant lays down to continue growing.
11 Types of Snake Plants to Grow
When you think of the snake plant, it does not lack the variety. Here are some of the most popular snake plants you can grow in our garden.
1. African Bowstring
| Scientific Name: Dracaena hyacinthoides |
The African bowstring hemp, or Dracaena Hyacinthoides, is a notorious weed in its native habitat, but it makes a lovely houseplant.
This plant will have reached a height of 10–12 inches at maturity, with leaves radiating out from a thick, central stem.
Although the plants maintain a low profile, they may quickly fill out a broad container by sending out new shoots from their rhizomes.
Rare racemes have white to pale green buds and slender flowers, and the leaves are broad and mottled in light and dark green, narrowing at the base and widening at the tip.
2. Black Robusta
| Scientific Name: D. trifasciata |
D. trifasciata, ‘Black Coral,’ also known as ‘Black Robusta,’ is unrivaled for its richness and luxury as a dye. It has tall, waxy, dark green leaves streaked with gray and olive green.
When fully mature, this cultivar often reaches a height of three feet or more.
The “black” element of the name comes from the fact that the colors may get even more profound when there is less light. The pattern is disrupted by adding more vivid green in more vital illumination. This cultivar’s racemes are long, slender, and filled with dozens of dainty white or cream blooms.
3. Star’ Sansevieria
| Scientific Name: Sansevieria kirkii |
For its unusual broad, tapering leaves and glorious light, fluorescent patterns, the ‘Pangane’ Sansevieria, also known as the ‘Star’ Sansevieria, is a favorite among plant breeders. This plant reaches a moderate height when grown indoors, reaching around 6 feet. Its unusual flowers, which have the appearance of sharp spines, are pretty breathtaking if you are fortunate enough to see one in full bloom.
4. Golden Hahnii
| Scientific Name: Sansevieria trifasciata |
Golden Hahnii Sansevieria, commonly known as Bird’s Nest Sansevieria, is another dwarf sansevieria variation. The horizontal stripes of green and lighter green may be seen across this snake plant’s broad, tapering leaves.
The leaves eventually condense into a spiky funnel shape. When viewed from above, the ‘Golden Hahnii’ takes on the form of a rosette. This particular sansevieria will top at roughly 12 inches (30 centimeters). Instead of cultivating a single snake plant, cultivating many together is more effective for a more dramatic impact.
5. Francisii
| Scientific Name: D. francisii |
D. francisii stands out from the crowd due to its unusual growth pattern, which is not typical of snake plants. Perhaps this is the most excellent option if you’re searching for something to spark talk.
This species develops a sturdy central stem wherein the thick, succulent, green leaves with gray banding emerge. This happens in contrast to others that grow leaves from the main stem at the soil level or produce individual leaves.
The stems, which have a densely packed arrangement of leaves, are stoloniferous. It means that a new stem grows from the base of an existing branch and creeps horizontally until it produces roots to form a new plant.
Though each stem maxes out at the height of around two feet at maturity, the spread can get rather broad as new stems emerge and grow.
Cutting down and repotting new stolons that sprout at the stem’s base is an option if their size becomes a problem.
Until they reach full maturity, young plants often look like other stemless types.
6. Black Gold
| Scientific Name: Dracaena trifasciata var. ‘Black Gold’ |
Several hybrid cultivars of D. trifasciata are available. Still, one of the most interesting is ‘Black Gold,’ often known as viper’s bowstring hemp, due to its many distinctive characteristics.
While most plants have striped leaves, this variety has solid primary ones. The brilliant golden hue around the leaf edges is a stunning contrast to the dark green coloration in the leaves.
This one is my favorite among the wide varieties of Dracaena trifasciata because of its dramatic effect on the eye. Like its sisters, it prefers bright indirect sunshine, but its low maintenance means it will flourish in full or partial shade.
The vivid green of its leaves, set off so exquisitely by the golden margins, makes it stand out from the crowd. It grows slowly, particularly in the shade, but it may reach a height of 3 feet, making it ideal for filling awkward spaces in your home.
7. Futura Robusta
| Scientific Name: Dracaena trifasciata var. ‘Futura Robusta’ |
Among the dwarf Sansevieria species, ‘Futura Robusta’ is a snake plant around 24 inches in height. This plant’s compact and dense growth makes it ideal for a tabletop or desk, and its shorter silvery leaves with deep green stripes are a significant draw. Plant care is simple for the low-maintenance Futura robusta, which has short, broad leaves. This rare plant has silvery green leaves that are striped with dark green.
8. Twisted Sister
| Scientific Name: D. trifasciata |
Rattlesnake plant with a new spin! ‘Twisted Sister,’ also known as ‘Twist,’ is a dwarf variety of D. trifasciata that stands out from its relatives in terms of its unique characteristics.
This dwarf variety doesn’t go taller than 15 inches when fully matured. It has a gold leaf edge and gray-green banding pattern with its parents, D. laurentii and ‘Gold Hahnii,’ but ‘Twisted Sister’ is twisted.
The corkscrew-shaped growth of the leaves gives this plant a unique appearance. It makes it a fascinating addition to any indoor garden. Bird’s nests and pinwheels are only two examples of the circular forms that foliage may produce.
If the plant gets too big for its pot, you can cut it in half and transplant the new halves somewhere else for a neater, more manageable look.
9. Cleopatra
| Scientific Name: Sansevieria ‘Cleopatra’ |
The Sansevieria ‘Cleopatra’ snake plant is another one of our favorites due to its attractive leaf patterns, red-brown leaf margins, and rosette-like twirling of leaves.
This Sansevieria hybrid is so rare you should pick one (or two!) up if you happen to come across it on one of your plant-shopping excursions. Its small height of about 11 inches makes it ideal for filling in even the tiniest nooks and crannies while adding visual appeal to the overall space.
The ‘Cleopatra’ cultivar of sansevieria is charming due to the intricate patterns on its succulent leaves. The dark green lines on the leaves stand out against the lighter green backdrop. The reddish-brown stripe that runs along its rippling borders adds to its charm.
10. Kenya Hyacinth
| Scientific Name: Sansevieria Parva |
The ‘Kenya Hyacinth,’ or lovely sansevieria Parva, has slender, light green leaves with darker markings. The succulent gets its spiky appearance from the rosette of leaves that develop in a snakelike arrangement.
There are 6-12 leaves in a cluster, and each one can reach a length of 16 inches (40 centimeters). Like all sansevieria species, the ‘Kenya Hyacinth’ produces beautiful flowers. When in bloom, it has delicate pinkish-white blossoms.
11. Ceylon Bowstring Hemp
| Scientific Name: Sansevieria Zeylanica |
This kind of sansevieria has sword-shaped leaves that grow vertically and have earned the other names “Devil’s Tongue” and “Mother-in-Tongue.” Law’s The ‘Ceylon Bowstring Hemp’ has thick leaves with contrasting dark and lighter green patterns. Sometimes there will be normal-looking white spots. The maximum height at which the leaves may develop is 2.5 ft (75 cm).
When the snake leaves of this tropical plant grow together, they take on a particularly stunning appearance. The tall, pointed, upright leaves may be a beautiful focal point in any decor. Planting them in a row makes for a lovely, modern workplace accent or raw partition between rooms.
Also Read:- 10 Most Popular Types of Dracaena Plants to Grow Indoor & Outdoor
Guidelines for Managing Your Snake Plants
Snake plants are just as easy to care for as any other succulent you would come across. Snake plants may multiply quickly if you give them the right kind of attention.
Large, flat leaves attract a lot of dust and quickly become unsightly if not dusted regularly. Be gentle so as not to scar the leaves as you go about this.
Varieties of Sansevieria are exceptionally hardy and resistant to a wide range of pests and diseases. You should inspect the plant’s leaves, roots, and soil for symptoms of problems and illnesses.
It’s important to know that snake plants require a particular type of soil to survive and that standard potting soil is not that dirt. Soil explicitly designed for cacti and succulents is porous and drains quickly, preventing root rot.
1. Perfect Climate for Snake Plants
If you keep the temperature above 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), your snake plant should be fine. They’re excellent in the garden or as houseplants because they are adaptable to different environments.
In the event of freezing temperatures, never abandon your plant unattended. If the weather is worse while your snake plant is outside on a balcony or in the backyard, you will need to bring it inside.
2. Optimal Watering
Accurately watering a snake plant is a difficult task. The most prevalent issue that growers of succulent plants encounter is overwatering.
It is best to water your plant from the bottom up. Because any surplus water may be pushed out, the roots are encouraged to develop more profoundly into the pot.
Water your succulent using the “soak and dry” technique. Daily soil contact is essential, as is waiting until the soil is arid before watering. Root rot and related illnesses are caused by overwatering. Thus this is crucial.
3. Best Lighting
Put your snake plant in a bright yet shaded spot if you want it to flourish. To the same extent, if you want your plant to develop more slowly, you should put it in a shaded spot that receives sunshine during the day.
You can kill your succulent if exposed to strong sunlight for too long. Its leaves can become brittle, split, and scarred permanently without proper care and maintenance, which includes regular trimming and removal of the affected portions.
FAQ’s For Snake Plant
Ans. Golden Hahnii is the prettiest snake plant.
Ans. Sansevieria comprises around 70 different species. These are blooming plants of the Sansevieria genus and the Asparagaceae plant family. Because of their lengthy leaves and tapering tips, Sansevieria types are commonly famous as “snake plants.”
Ans. S. stuckyi is the highest species, having cylindrical leaves that reach 10 feet like tusks. In contrast, S. trifasciata ‘Hahnii’ forms are less than 6 inches long and resemble bird’s nests.
Ans. Sayuri. Sayuri is a unique Sansevieria variety with beautiful gray-green blade-like leaves that are equally striped in silver and blue and have a white border. The plant grows best in direct sunshine.
Ans. A snake plant has an average lifespan of five to 10 years, although it can survive up to 25 years or more.
Conclusion
Succulents, which include snake plants, are distinguished by their ability to store water in their leaves and thus require less frequent watering. Snake plants thrive in low to medium light and are suited to warm, humid, or dry conditions.
It is an excellent option for a houseplant because of its reputation for purifying the air of harmful substances like formaldehyde and xylene. Because of its attractive appearance, it is a popular decorative plant in both outdoor settings where it naturally occurs and in artificial environments.