Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata) – Architectural Evergreen Houseplant (12cm Pot)

The Snake Plant, botanically Dracaena trifasciata and still almost always sold as Sansevieria, is one of the most popular and enduring houseplants, prized for its bold, upright, sword-shaped leaves marked with deep green mottling and a creamy yellow margin.

It is remarkably easy to live with. Snake plants tolerate everything from low light to bright indirect light, need very little watering, and are equally at home in a living room, bedroom, hallway or office. Mature plants grown in bright conditions occasionally produce small, fragrant white flowers.

This plant arrives as an established young plant in a 1 litre pot, ready for a windowsill, desk or shelf, or as the start of a larger indoor collection. A choice of decorative planter is available; the plant itself, its size and its care stay the same whichever you choose. Position it in bright, medium or low indirect light, away from prolonged harsh direct sun, and let the compost dry out almost completely between waterings, especially in winter. Overwatering is by far the most common cause of decline.

The Snake Plant is harmful if eaten and is listed as toxic to cats and dogs, so position it where pets cannot reach the leaves.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Snake Plant, Mother-in-Law's Tongue
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: Approx. 45-75cm tall and 20-40cm wide (variety dependent)
• Growth Habit: Upright, clump-forming with stiff, sword-shaped leaves
• Perfect For: Living rooms, bedrooms, offices and hallways
• Foliage: Stiff, upright leaves with deep green mottling and creamy yellow margins
• Planting Position: Bright, medium or low indirect light
• Maintenance: Low; drought tolerant, allow compost to dry out between waterings
• Type: Evergreen houseplant