Mother-in-law's Tongue Dracaena trifasciata
Other 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, tropical herbaceous perennial in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). It is native to central Africa. The species epithet means "having three transverse stripes" and refers to the pattern of variegation on the leaves (although there may be more than three stripes).
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 are 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 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. Monitor for mealybugs and spider mites. Overwatering may cause root rot.
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:
-
- 'Bantel's Sensation'
dark green foliage with white vertical stripes - 'Black Gold'
dark green foliage with bright gold edging - 'Black Jack'
compact, dark green foliage with yellow-green margins - 'Black Robusta'
dark green foliage with mottling of silver stripes - 'Futura Robusta'
dark green foliage with silvery green blotches - 'Futura Superba'
gray-green foliage with yellow margin - 'Golden Flame'
gray-green foliage that turns dark green as it ages and has a yellow-gold pattern of stripes - 'Hahnii'
dwarf plant with 6-12 leaves forming a short, funnel-shaped rosette, dark green foliage with creamy white horizontal stripes - 'Laurentii'
variegated or striped, dark green with zigzags of lighter green and yellow edges, - 'Metallica'
green foliage with gray vertical bands and light green horizontal bands - 'Moonshine'
silvery-gray foliage with light green blotches and narrow dark green margins - 'Silver Queen'
silver green foliage with light green horizontal bands - 'Twisted Sister'
twisting leaf habit, variegation of yellow-gold and green - 'Whitney'
dark green foliage with margins of pale and dark green variegations
- 'Bantel's Sensation'
- 'Bantel's Sensation', 'Black Gold', 'Black Jack', 'Black Robusta', 'Futura Robusta', 'Futura Superba', 'Golden Flame', 'Hahnii', 'Laurentii', 'Metallica', 'Moonshine', 'Silver Queen', 'Twisted Sister', 'Whitney'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bantel's Sensation'
dark green foliage with white vertical stripes - 'Black Gold'
dark green foliage with bright gold edging - 'Black Jack'
compact, dark green foliage with yellow-green margins - 'Black Robusta'
dark green foliage with mottling of silver stripes - 'Futura Robusta'
dark green foliage with silvery green blotches - 'Futura Superba'
gray-green foliage with yellow margin - 'Golden Flame'
gray-green foliage that turns dark green as it ages and has a yellow-gold pattern of stripes - 'Hahnii'
dwarf plant with 6-12 leaves forming a short, funnel-shaped rosette, dark green foliage with creamy white horizontal stripes - 'Laurentii'
variegated or striped, dark green with zigzags of lighter green and yellow edges, - 'Metallica'
green foliage with gray vertical bands and light green horizontal bands - 'Moonshine'
silvery-gray foliage with light green blotches and narrow dark green margins - 'Silver Queen'
silver green foliage with light green horizontal bands - 'Twisted Sister'
twisting leaf habit, variegation of yellow-gold and green - 'Whitney'
dark green foliage with margins of pale and dark green variegations
- 'Bantel's Sensation'
- 'Bantel's Sensation', 'Black Gold', 'Black Jack', 'Black Robusta', 'Futura Robusta', 'Futura Superba', 'Golden Flame', 'Hahnii', 'Laurentii', 'Metallica', 'Moonshine', 'Silver Queen', 'Twisted Sister', 'Whitney'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dracaena
- Species:
- trifasciata
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- West and West Central Africa
- Distribution:
- Bangladesh, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, East Himalaya, Ecuador, Fiji,Haiti, India, Jamaica, Malaya, Mexico, Myanmar, Puerto Rico, Queensland, Rwanda, and the United States
- Play Value:
- Colorful
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Poisonous
- Succulent
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Orange
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- The orange berry fruits appear after flowering, but they are rarely seen on indoor plants.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Description:
- Inflorescence is raceme. Flowers are small, greenish-white to cream-colored, sticky, and fragrant. Flowers are rarely seen on indoor plants.
-
-
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 rosettes or clusters. They are flat, up to 4 feet long and 2 to 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, and others have longitudinal stripes.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Insignificant
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Acaulescent, having no visible stem.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Heavy Shade
- Humidity
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Toxic if ingested: vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, nausea, diarrhea, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats). The sap can cause skin irritation.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Saponins
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Stems
