The Snake Plant is one of the most popular architectural houseplants, grown for its bold, upright sword-like leaves banded in dark green with striking yellow margins. Botanically Dracaena trifasciata, it is still almost always sold and searched for under its older name, Sansevieria trifasciata, and is also known as Mother-in-Law's Tongue or the African Spear Plant.

It is a true low-light houseplant, tolerating dim corners as happily as a bright windowsill, and it copes well with the dry air of centrally heated homes. Its stiff, slow-growing rosette of leaves needs very little attention once settled in, which is why it has become a fixture of bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms and offices alike, and it is widely recognised as one of the better houseplants for improving indoor air quality.

It arrives in a 12cm pot, ready to display almost anywhere indoors. Give it bright indirect light where possible, though it will tolerate medium or low light without complaint, and keep it well away from prolonged direct sun. Plant it into a free-draining, well-aerated houseplant or cactus compost.

Being naturally drought tolerant, the biggest risk to a Snake Plant is overwatering, so let the compost dry out completely between waterings and feed sparingly with a diluted houseplant fertiliser during the growing season. The plant is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed or eaten, so keep it out of reach of curious pets.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Snake Plant, Mother-in-Law's Tongue
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: Approx. 60-90cm tall and 30-60cm wide (variety dependent)
• Growth Habit: Upright, architectural evergreen
• Perfect For: Bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, offices and other low-light spaces
• Foliage: Variegated, upright sword-like leaves with dark green cross-banding and yellow margins
• Planting Position: Bright indirect light; tolerates medium and low light
• Soil Type: Free-draining, well-aerated houseplant or cactus compost
• Hardiness: Tender, needs a frost-free room above about 10°C
• Maintenance: Low maintenance; allow compost to dry out fully between waterings
• Type: Evergreen tropical houseplant