It comes from West Africa, a tropical place, where it is known as Sansevieria Trifasciata, which is a flowering plant. It is so popular that almost all succulent subscription plans include snake plants. There are many different varieties of snake plants. In this article, we will show you the 16 most popular.
Snake plants are evergreen perennials that can be found above and underground. One of the most popular snake plants is also called mother-in-law’s tongue and Viper’s Bowstring Hemp.
Because of its pointed and sharp leaves, this plant is called the sansevieria snake plant and the mother-in-law’s sharp tongue.
While the plant fibers of hemp can actually be used to make bowstrings, which is why it is called a bowstring’s hemp.
Usually it is green in color and its leaves have distinct patterns depending on the variety. The leaves can reach a height of about 6 feet and are almost 3 inches wide.
Snake plants come in a wide range of varieties, so it’s important to identify the type that you own.
Sansevieria, commonly known as snake plant, comes in many varieties. In this post, I’ll tell you which 16 kinds there are, as well as their common names and how to care for them.
Sansevieria Varieties: 16 Different Types Of Snake Plant To Identify What Types You Own
1. Sansevieria Ballyi
- Other names: Dwarf Sansevieria
- Family: Asparagaceae Subfamily: Crassuloideae Genus: Sansevieria
- Native: North Eastern Kenya
Dwarf Sansevieria is a perennial succulent that grows up to 6 inches tall. The succulent leaves are dark green in color with light green patches. Its flowers are greenish-white in color and can grow up to 6 inches tall.
How To Care For Dwarf Sansevieria
Make sure the container you choose has a drainage hole.
Sansevieria can flourish on almost any soil, making it possible to grow indoors and outdoors. Avoid mixing too much fertilizer with this soil, as the plant is only a light feeder, and could easily die if overfertilized.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 9b to 11b
Keep at an average room temperature of 65° to 75°F (18° to 24°C). This plant prefers bright light. However, if the intensity of the sunlight is too intense, it may cause the edges of the leaves to yellow.
During the summer, water this plant once every three weeks. Avoid letting it sit in water for too long, and avoid letting the soil become soggy when watering.
Wet soil causes it to rot quickly.
2. Sansevieria Ehrenbergii ‘Blue Sansevieria’
- Other names: Blue Sansevieria, Sword Sansevieria, Seleb Sansevieria, East African Wild Sisal, Somaliland Bowstring Hemp
- Family: Asparagaceae Subfamily: Crassuloideae Genus: Sansevieria
- Native: Northeastern Africa, from Libya south to Tanzania, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, and Yemen.
Blue Sansevieria leaves aren’t really blue but rather green and have a soft copper tone near their edges. Its leaves seem to grow opposite from each other as well.
Its stem can grow up to 7.2 inches in length, while its succulent leaves can grow up to 5 feet in height. The flowers are grayish-white or grey-green in color.
How To Care For Sansevieria Ehrenbergii
This plant needs medium to large-sized containers, which should have drainage holes. Since you can also bring this plant indoors, it’s best to choose a container that you can move around easily.
In summer, you may have to fertilize your snake plant once a week with an all-purpose fertilizer. This snake plant could also thrive on regular soil and rocky soil.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 9b to 11b
Temp/Light: Avoid placing it in an area with intense light as it can only handle moderate light exposure. Temperatures below 50° may damage this plant.
Make sure the soil is completely dry before watering this plant. Do not let the water and soggy soil sit on the plant for too long.
When overwatered, this plant is prone to root rot.
3. Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Twisted Sister’
- Other names: Twisted Sister Snake Plant, Gold Twist Sansevieria
- Family: Asparagaceae Subfamily: Crassuloideae Genus: Sansevieria
- Native: East to Congo
Twisted Sister is the smaller sister variety to the dwarf Sansevieria. It has leaves that are bright gold and green in color. It twists into the stem as it grows and may reach a height of 15 inches.
How To Care For Twisted Sister Snake Plant
Plant in a medium-sized container with drainage holes. You can grow this indoors from time to time, so you should choose a light container that you can easily move.
Fertilize once every three weeks during the summer. You can use any general-purpose fertilizer. Note that if it’s over-fertilized, its leaves will fall.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 9b to 11b
A temperature of 65o to 75oF (18o to 24oC) is ideal. Temperatures below 50° may damage the plant.
When watering, stop when the water drains from the container’s drainage hole. During winter, do not water every day. Soil: Only water this type of snake plant if it’s completely dry.
When overwatered, it quickly rots.
4. Sansevieria Kirkii ‘Star Sansevieria’
- Other names: Star Sansevieria, Bowstring Hemp, Bow-string Hemp, Pangane Sansevieria, Pangane Hemp
- Family: Asparagaceae Subfamily: Crassuloideae Genus: Sansevieria
- Native: Tanzania and the surrounding region of East Africa
It is one of the rarest types of sansevieria and has strong creeping underground stems. If placed indoors, it can serve as an air-purifying plant. Its leaves can grow up to 6 feet tall and has flowers that are greenish-white in color.
How To Care For Sansevieria Kirkii
Star Sansevieria should be planted in a medium-sized to large-sized pot with drainage holes. Since its leaves can grow quite tall, plant it in a place that is deep enough to accommodate it. Repotting may not be necessary anymore for this plant.
A variety of soils or potting mixes are suitable for it.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 10a to 11b
A temperature and light environment of 65° to 75°F can allow the Star Sansevieria to thrive. However, it is only able to thrive when exposed to a low level of light. However, it can glow when exposed to bright light.
Overexposure to intense light may cause its leaves to turn yellow.
To prevent rotting, avoid overwatering the plant. Only water when the soil is already completely dry. Water about three times a month during winter.
Whenever Sansevieria Kirkii is exposed to water for too long, it rapidly rots.
5. Sansevieria Patens
- Other names: Snake Plant
- Family: Asparagaceae Subfamily: Crassuloideae Genus: Sansevieria
- Native: British East Africa or Kenya
The leaves of this snake plant grow up to 3 feet tall and is a rosette-forming variety with branching rhizomes up to 1 inch in diameter.
The leaves of this plant have dark green hues with blackish green lines, and the flowers are grey-white in color.
How To Care For Sansevieria Patens
You can move Sansevieria Patens indoors in a medium-sized container with drainage holes. It thrives in containers.
The best kind of soil to use is one that contains pumice. Regular soil will also work. It’s imperative that the soil you use be well-draining.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 9b to 11b
Temperature/Light: This plant will grow best in average temperatures. If temperatures fall below 50°, you should bring this indoors to avoid any damage. It is heat tolerant, but shouldn’t be exposed to high light levels.
The soil should be dry before watering again. The soil should never be soggy. Any excess water should be discarded to avoid the plant sitting in water for a long time. Water sparingly during winter.
Problems/Issues: It could easily die if kept below 45°. Like most snake plants, this could also easily rot in overwatering.
6. Sansevieria Cleopatra
- Other names: Cleopatra
- Family: Asparagaceae Subfamily: Crassuloideae Genus: Sansevieria
- Native: Garden Origin and Indonesia
The Sansevieria Cleopatra is considered one of the newest snake plant varieties. It is slower-growing than other Sansevieria varieties and has intricate patterns on its leaves.
Its edges appear to be sculpted into multiple curves. It grows as a rosette with leaves up to 11 inches long. It is also hard to find in the market today.
How To Care For Sansevieria Cleopatra
This plant needs a medium-sized container about 10 inches deep. It can also be brought indoors, so make sure your container has drainage holes so that you can move it anywhere.
If you feed this plant once every three weeks, you will reduce the chances of damage to this plant. It prefers well-draining soil, but any potting mix or regular soil will do fine. An all-purpose fertilizer is good too.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 9b to 11b
It’s best to place the Cleopatra next to a window that gets sunlight at least six hours per day. Temperature/Light: The Cleopatra can thrive from partial to full sun shading.
During winter, you should only water this plant three to four times a month, but only when the soil is absolutely dry.
A common problem with this plant is root rot due to overwatering.
7. Sansevieria Parva ‘Kenya Hyacinth’
- Other names: Kenya Hyacinth Snake Plant
- Family: Asparagaceae Subfamily: Crassuloideae Genus: Sansevieria
- Native: Eastern Africa or Burundi, Kenya
This plant forms rosette-shaped leaves that grow up to 16 inches in height. Its rosettes typically have 6 to 12 green leaves with dark lines or patterns.
Snake plants have pinkish-white and fragrant flowers and bloom in late winter or early spring.
How To Care For Kenya Hyacinth Snake Plant
You can put it in a three-gallon container that has drainage holes or put it in a medium sized container with drainage holes. The Kenya Hyacinth prefers to be under-potted.
It can be planted in any kind of soil, as long as it contains some small rocks and some moss.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 10a to 11b
Generally, Sansevieria prefers low light conditions. At least 4 hours of light exposure is sufficient for this plant. Avoid intense heat. It can thrive at average temperatures, which is 65° to 75°F (18° to 24°C).
When watering, do not let the soil become soggy. Do not let the soil stand in water for a long time. Never let the soil stand in water for a long time.
Overwatering can cause this plant to rot easily.
8: Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Golden Hahnii’
- Other names: Golden Bird’s Nest Sansevieria, Golden Hahnii
- Family: Asparagaceae Subfamily: Crassuloideae Genus: Sansevieria
- Native: Garden Origin and Native to Tropical West Africa from Nigeria to the east of Congo
This plant forms rosette-shaped leaves that grow up to 16 inches in height. Its rosettes typically have 6 to 12 green leaves with dark lines or patterns.
The flower of this plant blooms from late winter to early spring. Its flowers are pinkish-white and fragrant.
How To Care For Golden Bird’s Nest Sansevieria
Snake plants require excellent drainage, so make sure the container of your choice has drainage holes. You may choose a medium-sized container that measures from one to three gallons.
Sansevierias can thrive in any soil that is slightly acidic or slightly alkaline. You can buy potting soil mixes from the market or create your own.
If you wish, you can even use regular garden soil with this plant. You can also use a general fertilizer, provided you fertilize it only once every third week during the summer.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 9a to 11b
This can survive in partial or full sunshade. Avoid overexposure of more than 16 hours, as overexposure can cause the leaves to yellow. Place this plant in an area with an average temperature.
Snake plants are drought-tolerant, so you don’t need to water them all the time. Let the soil dry in between waterings. In winter, water this plant twice a month at most.
The plant is vulnerable to rot if overwatered. It is also susceptible to mealybugs and spider mites.
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