Plant of the Month October 2024: Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)

This October, we’re spotlighting Dracaena trifasciata. This plant goes by many, many names: the Snake Plant, Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, Sansevieria, bow string hemp, Devil's Tongue (how perfect for spooky season!) and more. This evergreen perennial plant is native to tropical West Africa and its leaves grow in dense, thick spirals. You would think with a nickname like Devil’s Tongue it would be a nightmare to care for, but this might be the least fussy plant I’ve ever had! It’s often said that these plants “thrive on neglect” due to the fact that they require very little water and sun.

Our Snake Plants come in 2 colors: a rich, dark green variety and a brighter green variety with yellow edges. Here at Fern & Fossil, the plants grow quickly so we frequently have to trim and propagate them. Snake Plants are very easy to propagate with cuttings. When you make your cuttings, make the incision in the shape of an arrow in the direction of the tip of the leaves. Head to our propagation guide for more information on how to take Snake Plant cuttings.

Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata) needs the following care:

Light ☀️ Full Sun

Water 💧Only when soil is completely dry. Do not overwater

Grow 🌱 This is not a cold hardy plant. For best results avoid temperatures below 50 F.