Snake plant

Dracaena trifasciata · Family Asparagaceae

Also known as: mother-in-law's tongue, sansevieria, dracaena trifasciata

Light: Shade to full sun
Watering: Every 15 days
Difficulty: Easy
Pet-safe: No, keep it away from cats and dogs

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Care

Where to put it

Living room, bedroom or hallway. Copes well with dim corners.

Light

Tolerates low light, but grows better in indirect light.

Watering

Only water when the compost is completely dry. Overwatering rots the roots.

About the plant

Famous for its upright, stiff, sword-shaped leaves, it is one of the toughest plants there is. It tolerates low light, forgotten waterings and dry air, which makes it ideal for beginners. Indoors it usually reaches 60–120 cm.

Origin

Native to the dry, stony regions of tropical West Africa, from Nigeria to the Congo.

What it likes

Bright indirect light or even sun
Free-draining, sandy compost
Infrequent watering, with dry compost

What it dislikes

Water sitting in the saucer
Cold below 10 °C
Pots without a drainage hole

Did you know?

It uses a type of photosynthesis (CAM) in which it opens its pores mainly at night, which helps it save water.

Toxicity

Cats	Toxic
Dogs	Toxic
People	Mildly toxic

If any part is eaten, contact a vet or a poisons information service.

Plants toxic to pets

Native range

Africa: West Tropical Africa, West-Central Tropical Africa, East Tropical Africa