12 Different Types of Snake Plants

snake plant varieties

If you are looking for a plant that will handle almost any conditions, consider the snake plant (Sansevieria), commonly called mother-in-law’s tongue.

In addition to handling low-light conditions, forgetful watering, and other types of neglect, these plants look sharp.

Additionally, they will help keep the air inside your home clean. This plant has a hard time tolerating wet feet, so make sure that you plant it in a pot that drains well.

There are so many different varieties of snake plants, that you can easily find one that you’ll love.

Snake Plant Varieties

Viper’s Bowstring Hemp (Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Black Gold’)

Sansevieria-Trifasciata-'Black Gold'

The sword-like, dark-green leaves on the viper’s bowstring hemp can be up to 2.5-inches wide. They are outlined in yellow. Compared to many snake plants, this option prefers bright light, and it will reward you with more yellow on its leaves when it gets enough sunlight. The viper’s bowstring hemp can grow up to 4-feet tall and spread out to 2 feet.

Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Futura Robusta’

Sansevieria-Trifasciata-'Futura Robusta'

If you are looking for a shorter option, think about the sansevieria trifasciata. Known as the futura robusta, this option grows to be about 24-inches tall. The green leaves on this plant are striped with grayish lines. Unlike many options, this one has sword-shaped leaves that twist around each other instead of growing upright.

Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Golden Hahnii’

Sansevieria-Trifasciata-'Golden Hahnii'

The golden hahnii that is often referred to as the golden bird’s nest is a dwarf variety. It seldom grows over 10-inches tall. This option forms low rosettes. The oval gray-green leaves stand erect. They have dark green crossbands and are outlined in yellow. Inconspicuous yellow-green flowers appear in the late summer or early fall.

Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Futura Superba’

Sansevieria Trifasciata 'Futura Superba'

The sansevieria trifasciata looks like an immature black gold snake plant. It will grow to be about 24-inches tall, and its upright leaves will spread in a rosette to be about 12-inches across. The leaves are mottled with dark green. This option handles brighter light better than many other varieties.

Sansevieria Ehrenbergii (Blue Sansevieria)

Sansevieria-Ehrenbergii-(Blue Sansevieria)

The blue sansevieria snake plant grows its leaves in two parallel rows. Each leaf can grow up to 5-feet tall and be up to 2.5-inches wide. These dark-green leaves have a rounded appearance. As it matures, it will put off rhizomes. These rhizomes allow this plant to form a clump. Small grayish-white flowers tinged in purple appear in the late summer or early fall.

Sansevieria Ballyi (Dwarf Sansevieria)

Sansevieria-Ballyi-(Dwarf Sansevieria)

Dwarf sansevieria struggles to grow to 6-inches tall. This option grows in almost a perfect symmetrical rosette. Each of the light-green leaves that can be up to 4-inches tall is banded with dark green lines. Whitish-green flowers that can be up to 1-inch long grows on upright stems on this option. Typically, two flowers appear together in a cluster, but single options exist.

Sansevieria Kirkii

Sansevieria-Kirkii

One of the largest snake plants species, sansevieria kirkii grows in a rosette that can be up to 2-feet across. The wavy-edged leaves grow up to 6-feet long and can be up to 3.8-inches wide are spotted with a coppery-bronze color. The more sunlight this plant gets, the more colorful the leaves are on the sansevieria kirkii. It will also grow faster when it gets plenty of sun.

Sansevieria Patens

Sansevieria-Patens

While many snake plants have straight upright leaves when they are mature, the leaves on the sansevieria plant continue to go in multiple directions. These dark green leaves that can be up to 1-yard long are cylinder in shape. The leaves have light-green blotches that are outlined in black. Gray-white flowers appear in the late summer and early fall.

Sansevieria Zeylanica (Ceylon Bowstring Hemp)

Sansevieria-Zeylanica-(Ceylon Bowstring Hemp)

The Ceylon Bowstring Hemp produces upright leaves up to 2.5-feet long and up to 1-inch wide. These sword-shaped leaves have white spots on them, and they have dark-green bands. Avoid putting this option in the bright sunlight, or the edges of the leaves will turn yellow. Out of each rosette’s middle grows a flower stem up to 2-feet tall with a white flower on it in the late summer.

Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Cylindrica’

Sansevieria-Trifasciata-'Cylindrica'

You may be confused when you look at the sansevieria trifasciata cylindrica, which is also called African Spear, because you may wonder if you are looking at a variety of lucky bamboo or a snake plant. This plant that loves sandy soil grows short cylinder shoots. You can braid the shoots on this option by holding the ends together with a plant nail to create a unique shape or let it go natural. Place it in direct sunlight to encourage the most color in your plant.

Sansevieria Cylindrica ‘Boncel’ (Starfish Sansevieria)

Sansevieria-Cylindrica-'Boncel' (Starfish Sansevieria)

The sansevieria cylindrica boncel has a unique fan shape. Dark concentric circles appear on each of the light green leaves. Each leaf that can grow up to 7-feet long can be up to 1-inch wide. One-inch-long tubular flowers appear on this option if allowed to grow in the bright sunlight. The greenish-white flowers have a sweet fragrance.

Sansevieria Eilensis

Sansevieria-Eilensis

The bluish-green leaves on the sansevieria eilensis can be up to 5-inches long. These leaves have a downward arch. Immature leaves have reddish-brown margins and a deep channel down the middle. Each immature leaf also has a papery, brown cuticle. As the plant matures and new leaves appear, they have more of a cylinder appearance. Flowers appear in the late summer on spike-like racemes.

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