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Opening your find
Description
Your home office has one window, a stack of notebooks and a desk lamp that's on more often than not. Set a Sansevieria zeylanica on the floor beside the desk, and its upright, sword-shaped leaves rise in a tight fan of deep green. On a long day of calls, it's the one thing in the room that never needs anything from you.
This large snake plant stands 1.5 to 2.5 feet (0.5 to 0.8 m) tall, which makes it a neat fit for smaller rooms and tight corners. It's easy-going about light and water, so it suits busy people and first-time plant owners alike.
Care
Where should I place a Sansevieria zeylanica?
A Sansevieria zeylanica is happy in most rooms, from a bright living room to a dim bedroom or office. Bright, indirect light suits it best, but it'll cope with low light too. Keep it away from cold drafts.
Can a zeylanica snake plant live in low light?
A zeylanica snake plant can live in low light, and that's one of its best qualities. It's a good fit for north-facing rooms and darker city apartments. It'll grow a little faster, though, with a sunny window nearby.
How often should you water a Sansevieria zeylanica?
Your Sansevieria zeylanica would rather be too dry than too wet. Wait until the soil has dried all the way through, then water well and let it drain. In winter, a drink every month or two is usually plenty.
How tall does a Sansevieria zeylanica get?
Our Sansevieria zeylanica stands 1.5 to 2.5 feet (0.5 to 0.8 m) tall. Every plant is different, so your exact height depends on the one we choose for you. Its upright leaves keep it compact in a corner.
Should I trim brown tips off a zeylanica snake plant?
To tidy brown tips on a zeylanica snake plant, remove the damaged leaf completely, cutting it at the base, close to the soil. Use clean pruners, and the rest of the plant will keep the clump looking full and tidy.
Do snake plants like to be misted?
Snake plants don't need misting. They're comfortable in dry indoor air, so winter radiators won't bother them. Good snake plant care here is mostly about leaving yours alone and wiping dust off the leaves every so often.
Pet-friendly?
Is a Sansevieria zeylanica safe for cats and dogs?
We class our Sansevieria zeylanica as not pet-friendly, so it's best kept well away from cats and dogs. Give it a high shelf or a room your pets don't use, and tidy away any leaves that drop.
Factoids
What's the difference between Sansevieria zeylanica and trifasciata?
Sansevieria zeylanica and trifasciata are both upright snake plant varieties, and botanists now group both under the name Dracaena. The names point to different things: trifasciata means "three bands," after the leaf stripes, while zeylanica refers to Ceylon.
What does zeylanica mean?
Zeylanica means "of Ceylon," the old name for Sri Lanka. Botanists often name plants after a place, so the name of this plant points to South Asia, a long way from the African home of its trifasciata cousin.
Why is it called a snake plant?
The snake plant gets its name from its leaves. Their long, upright, pointed shape and their markings look a little like snakeskin, which is easy to see when the morning light hits a Sansevieria zeylanica from the side.
Is a snake plant a lucky plant?
Good luck plant is one of the snake plant's traditional nicknames, so it's a popular and well-loved housewarming gift. A Sansevieria zeylanica is also so forgiving about light and water that it tends to stay healthy, which feels lucky.
Buy a Sansevieria zeylanica
Book a free video shopping call to see our zeylanica snake plants up close on camera, so you can choose the one you like best. Delivery covers NYC and NJ, and we're here for any questions once it's settled in.
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