Snake Plant
Dracaena trifasciata 'Laurentii'
An evergreen succulent featuring upright, sword-shaped leaves with distinct dark green horizontal cross-bands and creamy-yellow margins.
- Light
- Prefers bright, indirect light, but tolerates low light as well as direct morning sun.
- Water
- Water deeply only after the soil has completely dried out. Very drought-tolerant; prone to root rot if overwatered.
- Growth
- Perennial succulent forming tight rosettes of stiff, vertical leaves. Mature height ranges from 1 to 4 feet tall.
Care instructions
Thrives on neglect. Provide bright indirect light to medium light, water only when the soil completely dries out, and use a well-draining potting mixture. Apply balanced houseplant fertilizer once or twice during the spring/summer growing season.
Growing details
Sunlight
Prefers bright, indirect light, but tolerates low light as well as direct morning sun.
Watering
Water deeply only after the soil has completely dried out. Very drought-tolerant; prone to root rot if overwatered.
Soil
Well-draining succulent or cactus potting mix with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5.
Hardiness zone
USDA Zones 10 to 12 (typically grown indoors as a houseplant).
Growth habit
Perennial succulent forming tight rosettes of stiff, vertical leaves. Mature height ranges from 1 to 4 feet tall.
Bloom season
Rarely blooms indoors; outdoor or mature plants may produce small, fragrant, greenish-white flowers on tall spikes in spring.
Propagation
Easily propagated by rhizome division or leaf cuttings (note that leaf cuttings of variegated varieties may lose yellow borders).
Common pests & issues
Root rot caused by overwatering or poor drainage. Occasional pests include mealybugs and scale insects.
Similar species
Dracaena trifasciata (wild form lacking yellow margins) and Sansevieria zeylanica (darker green mottling without bright borders).