Sansevieria Species, Mother-in-Law's Tongue, Saint George's Sword, Snake Plant

Sansevieriatrifasciata

Genus
Sansevieria (san-se-VEER-ee-uh)
Species
trifasciata (try-fask-ee-AH-tuh)
Synonym
Sansevieria craigii
Sansevieria jacquinii
Sansevieria laurentii
Sun Exposure
Light Shade
Foliage
Grown for foliage
Good Fall Color
Height
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Spacing
3-6 in. (7-15 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Danger
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Bloom Color
Cream/Tan
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Other Details
Category
Cactus and Succulents
Water Requirements
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Foliage Color
Blue-Green
Where to Grow
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Can be grown as an annual
Suitable for growing in containers
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
From leaf cuttings
Seed Collecting
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Remove fleshy coating on seeds before storing
Seed does not store well; sow as soon as possible
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Jones, Alabama

Mobile, Alabama

Goodyear, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona(2 reports)

Tucson, Arizona

Alameda, California

Bakersfield, California

Camarillo, California

Carmichael, California

Castro Valley, California

Clayton, California

Clovis, California

Elk Grove, California

Folsom, California

Fountain Valley, California

La Puente, California

Lake Elsinore, California

Long Beach, California(2 reports)

Oak View, California

San Anselmo, California

San Diego, California(2 reports)

Santa Barbara, California

Thousand Oaks, California

Van Nuys, California

Broomfield, Colorado

Meriden, Connecticut

Bartow, Florida(2 reports)

Big Pine Key, Florida

Boca Raton, Florida

Bradenton, Florida

Brooksville, Florida

Cape Coral, Florida

Daytona Beach, Florida

Deltona, Florida(2 reports)

Dunnellon, Florida

Fort Lauderdale, Florida(2 reports)

Gainesville, Florida(2 reports)

Holiday, Florida

Hollywood, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

Jupiter, Florida

Keystone Heights, Florida

Lake Worth, Florida

Lakeland, Florida

Lecanto, Florida

Lutz, Florida

Melbourne, Florida

Navarre, Florida

North Fort Myers, Florida

North Miami Beach, Florida

Ocala, Florida(2 reports)

Ocoee, Florida(2 reports)

Oldsmar, Florida

Plant City, Florida

Pompano Beach, Florida(2 reports)

Rockledge, Florida

Ruskin, Florida

Saint Petersburg, Florida

Sanford, Florida

Sarasota, Florida(2 reports)

Satellite Beach, Florida

Sebring, Florida(2 reports)

Tampa, Florida

Umatilla, Florida

Venice, Florida

West Palm Beach, Florida

Winter Park, Florida

Winter Springs, Florida

Zephyrhills, Florida

Mcdonough, Georgia

Norcross, Georgia

Saint Simons Island, Georgia

Honomu, Hawaii

Delhi, Iowa

Wichita, Kansas

Franklinton, Louisiana

Independence, Louisiana

Leesville, Louisiana

Metairie, Louisiana

Zachary, Louisiana

Frostburg, Maryland

Rockville, Maryland

Lawrence, Massachusetts

Lucedale, Mississippi

Laurel, Montana

Claremont, New Hampshire

Newton, New Hampshire

Dunellen, New Jersey

Jersey City, New Jersey

Carmel, New York

Clay, New York

Deposit, New York

Larchmont, New York

New Rochelle, New York

Oneonta, New York

Poughkeepsie, New York

Ridgewood, New York

Pittsboro, North Carolina

Rowland, North Carolina

Sapphire, North Carolina

Waxhaw, North Carolina

Bloomingdale, Ohio

Cincinnati, Ohio

Duncan, Oklahoma

Ninnekah, Oklahoma

Valliant, Oklahoma

Forest Grove, Oregon

West Linn, Oregon

Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Mc Keesport, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Tyrone, Pennsylvania

Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Greenwood, South Carolina

North Augusta, South Carolina

Alvin, Texas

Anahuac, Texas

Austin, Texas(2 reports)

Broaddus, Texas

Brownsville, Texas

Bryan, Texas(2 reports)

Dallas, Texas(2 reports)

Deer Park, Texas

El Paso, Texas

Fort Worth, Texas

Harlingen, Texas

Houston, Texas(3 reports)

Johnson City, Texas

Lampasas, Texas

Nome, Texas

Portland, Texas

Richmond, Texas

Round Rock, Texas

San Angelo, Texas

San Antonio, Texas(3 reports)

Spring Branch, Texas

Salt Lake City, Utah

Arlington, Virginia

Kalama, Washington

Wallace, West Virginia

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

39
positives
17
neutrals
8
negatives
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J
J
Bastrop, TX | December 2019 | positive

I turned 66 tuesday; realized that I've had these plants since i was 18 and given my first when I was in court reporting school in Denver...Read More

D
Salt Lake City, UT | February 2019 | positive

This is an awesome plant hard to kill. Also it was selected by a NASA Study as being one of the best plants at clearing toxins out of th...Read More

F
Pompano Beach, FL | February 2017 | positive

I've always loved this plant. I decided to plant some in an area where my sprinkler pump sits. It is in sandy soil with dappled shade in ...Read More

P
Phoenix, AZ | February 2015 | positive

Central Phoenix -- Sansevieria trifasciata grows in-ground in my garden, but requires winter protection. It has survived extensive freez...Read More

C
C
Lewisburg, PA (Zone 6b) | July 2014 | negative

Extremely invasive in the tropics. Most of the Carribean is overrun with this, as is much of Australia. Grows in dense thickets and choke...Read More

D
D
white oak, PA (Zone 6b) | July 2014 | positive

Have several cultivars of trifasciata and have grown them all for years. Mine bloom every summer except for the Hahnii types which have ...Read More

H
(Zone 9b) | July 2012 | positive

I'd like to point out an error in several members' comments on this species.

There is a substantial difference between San...Read More

M
Laurel, MT | June 2012 | positive

I love, love this plant I got my first one 12 years ago when it was maybe 6" tall it is now almost 5 1/2' feet tall. Mine has bloomed sev...Read More

A
| May 2012 | negative

I believe my cat chewed on the tip of a leaf of this plant this morning -- she threw up twice, crouched down and started panting and sigh...Read More

M
Milwaukee, WI | February 2012 | negative

I live in Wisconsin. I have had this plant for many years. I have a problem with the leaves flopping over, and I have to put it up agai...Read More

K
Jupiter, FL | August 2011 | negative

This plant is extremely invasive in Jupiter, FL. I planted a small plant and it has taken over the backyard and now going into the neigh...Read More

A
A
Camarillo, CA | January 2011 | positive

In my coastal Southern California garden, this plant survives on rainfall alone (usually only 13-15 in. a year and none from May-October....Read More

K
Sarasota, FL | October 2010 | negative

This plant is HIGHLY INVASIVE in Florida.

I moved into a property where mother-in-law's tongue was either planted or volun...Read More

P
Fairless Hills, PA | July 2010 | positive

I think there is a lot of confusion here between the snake plant, called Mother-In-Law's Tongue and the plant called Mother-In-Law Plant ...Read More

N
Newton, NH | May 2010 | positive

My mother received the snake plant as a gift as a small plant in 1958. I was given the plant when she passed in 1991.

It'...Read More

G
Mcdonough, GA | February 2010 | neutral

I'm trying one with hydroculture (sans pebbles)

B
Gainesville, FL | January 2010 | positive

This is probably the easiest indoor plant there is. Almost (but not quite) impossible to kill the thing. It literally thrives on neglect....Read More

A
Clay, NY | January 2010 | positive

Very resilient houseplant... I have a 12" pot of this in a northeast window. I received one leaf of this in a flower arrangement 4 or 5...Read More

M
Frostburg, MD | December 2009 | neutral

I love this plant! It is easy to maintain, and I have a brown thumb, so if I couldnt kill it, no one can! The only problem, and it;s a bi...Read More

H
H
Corpus Christi, TX (Zone 9a) | January 2009 | positive

This is a great plant for beginners, or to give as a gift to that friend with a black thumb. It tolerates poor conditions down to the ty...Read More

S
Houston Heights, TX (Zone 9a) | January 2009 | positive

I have had this plant off and on for 40 years and most of that time I had cats. Ive never noticed my cats being interested in the plant a...Read More

P
Acton, CA (Zone 8b) | December 2008 | positive

I noticed a note below that Sansevierias will kill cats if eaten by them. I suppose if a cat were out to eat an entire Sansevieria it wo...Read More

K
(Zone 8a) | December 2008 | positive

My absolute favourite house plant. Yes they can survive being neglected, but with some TLC they are a magnificent plant!

F
Mobile, AL (Zone 8b) | November 2008 | positive

Mine stayed in the same old black 12" nursery pot for about 15 years until it just split the sides in several places and started putting ...Read More

P
(Zone 1) | September 2008 | neutral

Although not a favorite of mine, I have a few in containers. They make an interesting houseplant. Some folks plant them in the ground he...Read More

M
Fort Smith, AR | September 2008 | positive

Perhaps there is some confusion with sansevieria, and diffenbachia (also called dumb-cane), which can paralize the vocal cords. Do not ...Read More

W
Lecanto, FL (Zone 9a) | July 2008 | positive

I had abandoned my green/birdhouse due to an allergy to the hay I used as an amendment to the soil. I cleared out most of the plants but ...Read More

L
North of Atlanta, GA (Zone 8a) | April 2008 | positive

Once, I was given an old plant as a gift and the following month, it bloomed. I was told that this plant only bloomed once every 10 year...Read More

P
Huntington, AR | March 2008 | neutral

Mine flowered indoors here in Arkansas in a sunny western window...tough plant, but the flower fragrance, as someone else here posted, li...Read More

S
Orangeburg, NY (Zone 6a) | March 2008 | positive

Sansevieria (Snake Plants) became popular across the United States of America because they were one of the plants, along with African Vio...Read More

J
Dunellen, NJ (Zone 6b) | January 2008 | positive

Easy to care for plant: Did you know where this plant got its name from?? These plants belong to the Agave-family (Agavaceae), although ...Read More

D
D
Granite City, IL | October 2007 | positive

My friend gave me a Snake Plant about 3 years ago. It was about 1-1/2 to 2 feet tall when she gave it to me and it is now over 3 ft tall...Read More

G
Royal Oak, MI | September 2007 | positive

I have had this plant for13 years, and my hubby's mother for 25 or so before that. Apparently, it came in a basket to welcome his little...Read More

E
Lake Elsinore, CA | August 2007 | positive

I have successfully grown this plant outdoors in Corona and Lake Elsinore California. Survived the severe frost we had in early 2007 when...Read More

O
Oak View, CA | July 2007 | positive

We have had this plant for 30 years. I think I dug it up out of the yard of our first house. It has been remarkably tolerant -- drought...Read More

N
Lancaster, PA | July 2007 | neutral

Personally, I do not like them, but my Mom sure does! She has several that are decades old, grown in pots indoors. They like to be crowde...Read More

M
Archer/Bronson, FL (Zone 8b) | March 2007 | neutral

Personally, I don't care for this plant due to it's invasiveness in zone 10 and they will poke you in the eye.

I am a litt...Read More

M
Larchmont, NY | February 2007 | positive

I've had the same snake plant in the same (small) metal pot for 35 years. I was so surprised when it bloomed once, about 5 years ago. La...Read More

J
Yukon, OK | January 2007 | positive

I have had my Mother-in-Law's tongue for at least 20 years, maybe as long as 30. My husband's landlord gave it to him because he had abo...Read More

S
Broomfield, CO | July 2006 | positive

Debbiewake, the plant you describe that your Mother gave you is a "Pregnant Plant" also known as Mother of Thousands or Mexican Hat Plan...Read More

I
I
(Zone 8b) | March 2006 | positive

It grows well with a minimum of attention & actually seems to prefer being neglected. I must admit that while the blooms are supposed to ...Read More

M
Ocoee (W. Orlando), FL (Zone 9b) | December 2005 | neutral

It grows very well here in zone 9b outdoors, not bothered much by the occasional frosts, but you must keep it in check, or it can take ov...Read More

V
(Zone 8a) | December 2005 | positive

Was not aware this plant was toxic to cats. Interesting--my cat seems the one to be doing the damage. This is the only plant he bothers...Read More

D
Charlotte, NC | July 2005 | neutral

I had never heard that a snake plant was called a "Mother-in-law's tongue". I had had several of these plants for years and have had grea...Read More

E
Austin, TX (Zone 8a) | April 2005 | positive

i've had my plant for about 3 years in a container. it was given to me as a gift before i became a consiensous gardener and was totally n...Read More

G
Pittsboro, NC (Zone 7a) | February 2005 | positive

I enjoyed reading all the comments above! Snake plant is a "nostalgia" plant for me...got my first start from my mother YEARS ago....lik...Read More

N
| February 2005 | neutral

i have not tried growing this plant before, but here in singapore it is quite common. i have never seen a pot that was destroyed by sanse...Read More

B
SC, MT (Zone 5a) | August 2004 | positive

As a no-brainer house plant, it is great. Its vertical growth fits well into a blank wall space or a corner.

Requires ...Read More

N
Boca Raton, FL (Zone 10a) | July 2004 | negative

Snake Plant, Bowstring Hemp, or Mother-In-Laws Tongue is a great houseplant native to Africa. DO NOT, I repeat, do not plant this popular...Read More

C
West Kill, NY | July 2004 | negative

I don't know about snake plants being poisonous to housecats, but I know my housecat was poisonous to my snake plants. Many years ago I l...Read More

H
H
Castro Valley, CA (Zone 9a) | July 2004 | positive

It is so easy to take care of this plant, no care at all, except when I lived in Chino Hills, Southern Calif, We had a freeze, the whole...Read More

L
West Monroe, LA | July 2004 | neutral

Hello - I just purchased several buckets of this neat plant at my local home improvement store and was reading through all the notes post...Read More

M
M
Harvest, AL | June 2004 | positive

These are such attractive plants that require very little care.
They will tolerate low lighting conditions indoors and thrive in p...Read More

M
San Francisco, CA (Zone 10b) | June 2004 | positive

Sansevieria is commonly seen as a plant in offices, even fast food restaurants, since it seems almost impossible to kill. When friends ha...Read More

M
Modesto, CA | January 2004 | neutral

i have had a large one in a pot on my screened-in patio in orlando, florida, for about 2 and a half years. i rarely water it--maybe once ...Read More

T
Plant City, FL | September 2003 | neutral

While snake plant is an attractive upright houseplant, I will never plant it outside even though it should be too cold here in zone 9b fo...Read More

M
(Zone 11) | September 2003 | neutral

Out of curiosity, this plant is used for ritualistic purposes by followers of the Umbanda (an african cult with catholic influences), alo...Read More

A
Islamorada, FL | September 2003 | negative

Noxious weed here in zone 11.

G
Zephyrhills, FL | April 2003 | neutral

I have heard the reason this plant is called "Mother In Law's Tongue is because of the properties of the liquid this plant contains. Seem...Read More

R
| April 2003 | positive

I live near Toronto, and have owned this houseplant for 15 years or more, and it has bloomed for the very first time spring of 2002 and n...Read More

L
| January 2003 | positive

According to information I gatherred, as well as experience, the Snake Plant will tolerate low light but performs best in med. or high li...Read More

D
D
dgc
| November 2002 | neutral

Do not grow indoors if you have cats. This plant is DEADLY to cats if they chew on any part of it!

D
D
(Zone 10a) | April 2002 | neutral

Plants that grow from leaf cuttings will not have the yellow stripes. Blooms only in Summer.

K
| March 2002 | neutral

There is now a new variety of Snake plant, a compact version that is 4-6 inches tall and 6-7 inches wide. Requires same care as the Snake plant.

Featured
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(Boisea trivittata)
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Featured
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(Boisea trivittata)
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