Dracaena trifasciata
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Sansevieria trifasciata
- Phonetic Spelling
- dra-SEE-nah try-fas-ee-AY-tuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Snake plant is an erect, clumping, broadleaf evergreen houseplant in the Asparagaceae (asparagus) family. It is native to Africa.
Place in a location where it will receive direct sunlight only part of the day, 2 to 6 hours, as it will tolerate very low light. Well-drained soil and careful watering is a must; do not overwater, as the roots will rot. In spring to autumn allow the soil to dry between waterings. In winter only water every one to two months. It tolerates low humidity and cool temperatures around 50 degrees. This plant is quite durable, easily grown, and difficult to kill.
In its native habitat it blooms in the winter but as a houseplant, it rarely blooms. Snake plant is a clean air plant, as it helps improve air quality. NASA found in the 1970s that certain common houseplants could actually remove pollutants like formaldehyde, benzene, and ammonia from a room rather efficiently, and further study supports this.
Snake plant is grown in containers and is used as ground cover filler in interior landscape designs.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Hahnii'
dwarf plant with6-12 leaves forming a short, funnel-shaped rosette - 'Laurentii'
a chimeral form with yellow, thickened (diploid) margins - 'Silver Queen'
- 'Hahnii'
- 'Hahnii', 'Laurentii', 'Silver Queen'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Hahnii'
dwarf plant with6-12 leaves forming a short, funnel-shaped rosette - 'Laurentii'
a chimeral form with yellow, thickened (diploid) margins - 'Silver Queen'
- 'Hahnii'
- 'Hahnii', 'Laurentii', 'Silver Queen'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dracaena
- Species:
- trifasciata
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Africa
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Winter
- Flower Description:
- Inflorescence is raceme. Flowers are minute, greenish-white to cream-colored, sticky, nonfragrant.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Stiff, upright, succulent leaves grow in rosette or clusters. They are flat, up to 4 ft long and 2-4 inches wide with alternating transverse bands of shades of green. Some varieties have yellow to white bands on the outer edges of the leaves.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Insignificant
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Acaulescent, having no visible stem.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
