Zey

Snake Plant

Sansevieria Zeylanica; Mother-in-law's tongue; Viper's bowstring hemp

• 
  Most light conditions
• 
  Easy care

• Zey likes...
  • 
    Light watering

    He’s very drought tolerant. Let him dry out between waterings. In winter, he’ll only need water once a month or so.

  • 
    Most light conditions

    He’ll be fine in pretty much any light conditions, except total darkness. He’ll grow best in bright, indirect light.

  • 
    Feeding

    If you want to be very nice, give him a liquid feed (diluted to half strength) once in spring and again in summer.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Sansevieria trifasciata

  Nickname

  Snake plant; Mother-in-law’s tongue, Viper’s bowstring hemp

  Plant type

  Indoor, evergreen perennial

  Air purifying

  Yes

  Plant height (including pot)

  20-30cm; 50-60cm; 90-100cm

  Pet/baby safe

  Mildly toxic if ingested

  Nursery pot size

  12cm; 17cm; 27cm

• About sansevieria zeylanica

  Zey is made of tough stuff. They grow primarily across Africa, in very dry conditions. They are used to places so hot that during the day they keep all their pores completely closed, so they don’t lose any water to evaporation. When the temperature cools at night, its pores open, releasing all the oxygen they have been holding in.

  Their toughness makes them a dream of a houseplant. If you’re a beginner, this is the one for you. They thrive on neglect, can live in any light conditions and doesn’t care if you forget to water them. The only thing they hate is too much water. If you want to help them grow faster, give them a feed with liquid fertiliser once per month in spring and summer. For more details, have a look at our full care guide.

  Zey is a member of the snake plants, which are treasured all over the world. Across Africa, they are associated with Ogun, the deity of war, and Oya, the bringer of storms. In China, they are the ‘tiger’s tail orchid’; in Brazil, the ‘sword of Saint George’. Basically, this plant is pretty famous.

  If you’d like this plant with brighter, check out their sisterSusieor have a look at ourfull range of snake plants. They make great companions.

  Did you know?

  Another nickname for this plant is ‘viper’s bowstring hemp’, because its strong fibres were once used to make strings for bows.