Snake plants are succulents, also known as Dracaena Trifasciata, Sansevieria, or the fun moniker ‘mother-in-law’s tongue’.
They make excellent houseplants and are just as good in small spaces as in larger ones. In addition, snake plants tend to grow vertically, so if you have room for something tall but not wide, some of these attractive plants could be the perfect fit for your living space.
They are resilient plants and can thrive in most conditions. So even if you forget to water a Snake plant, it should be fine, but bear in mind that each variety has slightly different requirements.
Why These Types of Dracaena Plants Are So Popular
There are thousands of options to consider when looking for houseplants, but Snake plants have always been popular.
They’re easy to maintain and will thrive even with a bit of neglect. In addition, most grow upwards rather than outwards, which means they can fit comfortably into even the smallest space, such as in a tight corner or on a desk or table.
Snake plants can also remove airborne toxins. The bigger the plant, the better its toxin-absorbing capabilities will be. In addition, they add moisture to the air by releasing oxygen which can help minimize airborne allergens like dander and dust, so if you have asthma or allergies, this is a definite bonus.
They also make attractive gifts, and you can choose from dwarf varieties just a few inches high or larger ones which can grow up to 5 feet.
Here’s an excellent YouTube video highlighting some of the different varieties of Snake plants that we’ll cover in more detail below:
Now let’s look at some of the most popular sansevieria varieties and find out which would suit your needs and home the best.
37 Snake Plant Varieties
1. African Spear Dracaena (Dracaena Angolensis)
This plant has long, grey-green leaves with vertical grooves and light green stripes. It’s a herbaceous perennial succulent that can grow up to 3 feet across and up to 7 feet high.
Anything from full shade to full sun is fine, and you need to water it once every week or two in the summer and once a month in the winter.
This variety is also known as sansevieria cylindrica because the leaves are cylinder shape. Because young leaves are thin and bend easily, they can be braided to add a special touch to the plant.
2. Aloe Guineensis (Dracaena Hyacinthoides)
Choose this hardy perennial; you can expect sword-shaped olive green leaves and a plant that reaches up to 4 feet in height. It should be watered twice a month during the summer and once during the winter and prefers indirect, moderate to bright sunlight.
Interestingly, in its native continent of Africa, this succulent plant is considered a weed, but its attractive appearance makes it ideal for livening up your indoor living area.
In addition, it’s simple to take care of, even if you occasionally neglect it. It also produces oxygen at night and removes airborne toxins in the daytime.
The leaves are flat, fibrous, and olive-green and grow in sword shapes. The plant also produces tall floral spikes that reveal white-green tubular flowers in clusters.
3. Bantel’s Sensation aka White Dracaena (Dracaena Trifasciata)
With its white striped long, thin leaves, Bartel’s Sensation is a variety of sansevieria that can reach 3 feet in height or more in bright light conditions. This hardy perennial likes to be watered every week or two during the summer or once a month during the winter.
Keep this distinctive cultivar in any light condition, from full shade to full sun, and it should thrive. The pretty white stripes on the long, slim leaves give this snake plant its nickname, ‘White Dracaena’.
The parent plant is native to Africa, particularly around the Congo and Nigeria, although it is nursery-produced here.
The name is from Gustav Bantel, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, who developed and patented it in 1948. Although it doesn’t produce many flowers, the long, vertical flower stalks are attractive. This variety usually makes a single stem with white-green clusters of flowers.
4. Black Dragon (Dracaena trifasciata ‘Black Dragon’)
This dwarf plant has shiny, dark green leaves. It will grow in any light condition, from full shade to full sun, and reach up to 10 inches in height.
Water it every week or two during the summer and once a month in the winter. Black Dragon stands out because of the glossy leaves, which are so dark they almost look black. However, look closely; you can see green stripes along each leaf.
This evergreen perennial typically doesn’t flower, but it should give vertical stalks covered in clusters of buds. You can see little white tubular flowers with a delicate scent if they bloom.
5. Black Gold (Dracaena Trifasciata ‘Black Gold’)
The dark green leaves have bright yellow edges and do well in partial or full shade. Growing up to 3 feet tall, this perennial is a good pick for small spaces because it grows upwards rather than outwards.
Black Gold snake plant is native to Africa and India and doesn’t require much maintenance, apart from watering once every week or two during the summer or once a month in the winter.
It’s a low-maintenance houseplant that looks great in any house.
6. Bird’s Nest (Dracaena Trifasciata Hahnii)
Smaller than other varieties, the Bird’s nest snake plant is an evergreen perennial and rarely grows more than 12 inches high.
It has no stem, and the dark wide leaves have broad stripes on them running horizontally.
Give this plant water every week or so during the summer and once a month in the winter. It thrives equally well in any light condition, from full sun to full shade.
Although it doesn’t grow much more than a foot, it is an easy variety to propagate, so you can separate out the new growth to get new plants from it.
This type of Snake plant was first discovered in 1938 by Sylvan Hanh, where the botanical name comes from.
The leaves are lance-shaped, flat, smoothed, and ending in a taper, while the foliage is more of a bird’s nest shape.
Although vertical flower stalks with light green blooms are uncommon, you might get some from this plant.
7. Blue Dracaena (Dracaena Hanningtonii)
This flowering, evergreen plant grows naturally in tropical Asia and African climates.
Blue Drancaena doesn’t mind a bit of neglect so long as it gets water every week or so in the warmer months and once a month during the winter and doesn’t get overwatered.
The leaves are thick and pointy and grow in two rows, looking like a fan. The leaves are harvested for their fibers in Ethiopia and can be used to make brushes, bundle ties, and straps.
This variety can grow up to 5 feet tall. Its botanical name comes from a German naturalist Christian Ehrenberg, although the plant was first discovered in 1911 by Willhelm Kattwinkel.
Blue Dracaena is unusual because the leaves curl inwards. As a result, you get little white tubular blooms from the base and make vertical branches when it flowers.
The foliage is greenish-blue, and the tips and edges are brownish-red and white, making this an unusual and attractive choice.
8. Ceylon Bowstring Hemp (Dracaena Zeylanica)
This variety is an evergreen perennial with olive green leaves that have light green strips across them.
Often confused with Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, a more common type of sansevieria, Ceylon Bowstring Hemp can reach 3 feet in height and up to 1 foot in width.
It has long, sword-shaped leaves which grow vertically. However, they grow more upright than those on Mother-in-Law’s Tongue and aren’t as long.
It can produce pale green flowers once per year. The robust plant fibers were used to make hunting bowstrings in the past, hence the name.
Like with most other snake plants, this one does best with being watered once or twice in summer and once monthly in winter, and any light condition from full sun to complete shade should be fine.
9. Cleopatra Dracaena (Dracaena Cleopatra)
Named after the famous Queen of Egypt, this pretty snake plant likes bright, warm light and appreciates being watered every week or two in the summer and every four weeks in the winter.
It should also be acceptable in shady conditions and is quite a hardy succulent. It should be resilient if you don’t give it too much water. If you overwater it, it can get root rot and die.
It grows up to 10 inches tall, smaller than many other varieties, and the leaves grow in a rosette shape. They have intricate patterns on them.
This plant grows slowly and is found in parts of Southern Asia, Africa, and Madagascar, but it will be equally at home in your living room.
Cleopatra Snake plants can tip over if they get too top-heavy since they grow upwards. For this reason, it’s best to use a heavy cactus soil blend to hold it firmly in place.
10. Dracaena Ballyi, aka Dwarf Snake Plant (Dracaena Ballyi)
Reddish brown-tipped, pointed cylindrical leaves grace this attractive evergreen perennial. The leaves are grooved about ¾ of the way along and have a rough texture.
Anything from full shade to full sun suit Dracaena Ballyi and the plant does best with being watered every week or two in the summer or once a month in the winter.
It’s one of the smaller varieties and only grows 5 or 6 inches tall, making it perfect for even the smallest space.
The plant is named for Dr. Peter Bally, a Swiss botanist who discovered it in Kenya. Another name for this one is Dwarf Snake Plant because of its size.
There is also an even smaller one with stubby leaves known as Minnie, which only grows a couple of inches wide and then forms outshoots known as stolons.
Dracaena Ballyi has bottle-shaped, white spikes of flowers that grow in clusters. Flowering can stop leaf production but won’t kill the plant.
11. Dracaena Burmanica (Dracaena Burmanica)
This perennial grows up to 3′ tall and has precisely 13 leaves. As with just about every other snake plant, watering every week or so in the summer and every month in the winter suits it best, and any light condition will work with this one.
However, it does have a slight preference for being in a bright, warm location since it’s native to tropical West African forests. Having it somewhere shady shouldn’t harm it, though.
The leaves are green and have bright stripes on them. The edges of the leaves start off green but often become white over time.
12. Dracaena Concinna (Dracaena Concinna)
Expect this perennial to reach a maximum of 1½ feet high. Any light condition and a once-a-week or two watering work perfectly in the summer, while once a month is acceptable for the cooler months.
This variety grows slowly compared to most others.
This isn’t one of the most commonly sold snake plants, but it is an excellent choice because of its smaller size, so it isn’t going to take over the whole room like larger ones.
Also, the spoon-shaped leaves are pretty, and bright light conditions encourage the curling. Dark green foliage with light green bands grows on this cultivar, and you might get light purple or yellow flowers from the roots with this one.
13. Dracaena Liberica (Dracaena Liberica)
Considered to be an environmental weed in its native Queensland, this perennial has deep green leaves which go gray when they mature.
Full shade to full sun is pleasing for Dracaena Liberica, along with watering once every week or two in summer and once a month in winter.
Typically this sansevieria variety will grow to 3 or 4 feet tall, or sometimes more. Plenty of households have this ornamental plant. The leaves are slightly wavy, giving the plant an attractive look.
14. Dracaena Longiflora (Dracaena Longiflora)
Native to Namibia, the Congo, and Angola, as well as several other African regions, this snake plant has dark green leaves with a banded pattern.
Well suited to any light condition between full sun and full shade, the plant can grow to 3 or 4 feet in height.
It blooms tall, white flowers every summer, which offer a lovely scent.
Water it once every week or two or monthly during the cooler months.
15. Dracaena Patens (Dracaena Patens)
Herbarium botanist Dr. Nicolas Edward Brown discovered this gorgeous plant and numerous other varieties.
The leaves are V-shaped and look like a rosette, growing out like a fan. Sansevieria patens is a perennial that needs watering every week or two or just once monthly in the cooler months.
Expect it to grow up to 3 feet tall. The light green bands on the bright green leaves make it an attractive choice, and the foliage turns bluish as the plant matures.
Flowering isn’t guaranteed with this one, but it might develop little white flowers on vertical spikes yearly.
16. Father-in-Law’s Tongue (Dracaena Aubrytiana)
Not to be confused with Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, this sansevieria has bigger leaves that are dark green and shiny and feature a marble effect.
It’s a perennial that will grow a maximum of 2 feet tall. Water it every week or two or every month during the winter.
It is similar to Dracaena Kirkii but does have smoother, more upright leaves, which are gray-green or dark green with little white speckles.
Father-in-Law’s Tongue will likely produce a single stalk or flowers or maybe more than one.
17. Fernwood Mikado (Dracaena Bacularis ‘Fernwood Mikado’)
Thin, dense foliage that has light green horizontal stripes gives this snake plant an attractive look. It responds well to any light condition and likes to be watered once every week or two in the summer and once a month in the winter.
This evergreen sansevieria perennial can reach 3 feet high.
This isn’t the same plant as Dracaena Bacularis. It’s actually a Dracaena Parva/Dracaena Suffructicosa hybrid. The cylindrical leaves feature vertical grooves from tip to base, growing uniquely.
Little white flowers should appear once a year on this snake plant.
18. Fischer Singularis Dracaena (Dracaena Fischeri)
Although this perennial is usually kept inside, it can also grow outside if the climate is suitable. Either way, it likes water every week or so or once monthly during the winter.
Expect it to reach up to 2 feet tall depending on factors like sunlight, temperature, and soil type.
The stems are dark green and have a gray (banded) pattern. The leaves stay in a cupped shape even during maturity.
Dracaena Fischeri is a popular choice in offices and homes and is resilient enough to withstand a moderate amount of neglect. In addition, the plant often produces scented little flowers from stalks during spring and early summer.
19. Francisii Dracaena (Dracaena Francisii)
With the same watering schedule as most other sansevieria, this perennial tolerates any light condition and will reach a height of around 2 feet.
Francisii Dracaena has dark green leaves with wavy stripes. The name comes from Francis K Horwood, a succulent and cactus cultivator from London, England.
It looks different from most other snake plant varieties because it has many rows of leaves on every stem, and the foliage grows in a spiral shape.
Every leaf has a shallow channel and dark green vertical stripes. It doesn’t always bloom, but this variety sometimes has little white tubular flowers.
20. Gracillis Dracaena (Dracaena Gracillis)
Although the watering schedule for this evergreen perennial is the same as most other sansevieria varieties, the preferred light conditions are different since this one likes filtered, bright light much more than shade.
It will grow 2 or maybe 3 feet tall and has conical, folded pale green leaves in rosette forms that grow like spirals, giving it plenty of visual interest.
Gracillis Dracaena grows bright yellow-green scented flowers and sometimes berries during the late fall or early winter.
It looks pretty in a hanging basket because of the lovely leaves, but it will also look nice in a planter in your indoor garden.
21. Jade Marginata (Dracaena Trifasciata ‘Jade Pagoda’)
Expect deep green shiny leaves with yellow streaks on this attractive perennial.
It grows 1 or maybe 2 feet high and isn’t fussy about light conditions. Once every week or two during the summer and once a month during the winter is the best watering schedule.
This is a dwarf variety of the Mother-in-Law’s Tongue variety. Although the rosette shape looks like Hahnii snake plant varieties, Jade Marginata is a Bird’s Nest Snake Plant variegated cultivar.
The dark green, glossy leaves, as well as the bright yellow stripes on them, make it stand out from other sansevieria varieties.
Even gardening newbies will find this an easy plant to take care of. It looks pretty on any shelf or table in the home and also purifies the air, producing more oxygen at night.
22. Kenya Hyacinth (Dracaena Parva)
Reaching 1 or even 1½ feet tall, Kenya Hyacinth has bright green leaves. In addition, the leaves have horizontal stripes which vanish as they mature.
Water this indoor plant once every week or so in the summer and once a month in the winter. It is happy in any light condition from full sun to full shade.
Kenya Hyacinth grows in the forests of East Africa. It doesn’t grow particularly fast so you aren’t going to have to repot it often. Botanist Nicolas Edward Brown discovered this species in 2015.
The lance-shaped leaves are narrow and a bit concave. As the plant matures, the green bands on the leaves fade. The name comes from the fact that the flowers smell like hyacinths and bloom often.
23. Kirkii Star Dracaena (Dracaena Kirkii ‘Baker’)
This slow-growing evergreen perennial has fleshy leaves that descend with age.
It grows up to 3½ feet tall and is happy in anything from full shade to full sunlight. Water it every week or two, or less often during the winter.
Kirkii Star Dracaena is native to tropical regions, and it has crown-shaped clusters of succulent leaves and cone-shaped blossoms, which are rare in Snake plants.
24. Mason’s Congo Dracaena aka Whale’s Fin (Dracaena Masoniana)
Another type of Snake plant that can absorb toxins from the air, this variety can grow up to 5 feet high.
It doesn’t mind sun or shade and is easy to look after, making it a fantastic option for gardening newbies. Another name for Mason’s Congo Dracaena is Whale Fin snake plant.
It’s an evergreen perennial and semi-succulent with wide leaves that look like a whale’s fin, a paddle, or a beaver’s tail. The leaves are narrower towards the base.
25. Metallica Siam Silver (Dracaena Metallica)
Also known as Tom Grumbley or Tenzan, this perennial has light green leaves featuring vertical gray lines.
It grows 2 or 3 feet tall and is an unusual variety of Snake plants.
The gray lines on the foliage give the plant a metallic appearance, hence the name. Water it once every week or so or once a month in the winter.
It doesn’t mind shade or sun. But, again, it’s a rare Snake plant variety that grows clusters of scented flowers at the top and orange berries.
26. Moonshine Dracaena (Dracaena Trifasciata ‘Moonshine’)
This evergreen perennial has pretty, wide, silver-green leaves and grows scented white flowers.
Expect it to grow up to 2 feet high and keep it in any light condition from sun to shade. If you keep it somewhere bright, you will get more flowers.
The wide leaves on the Moonshine snake plant are tongue-shaped and grow up from the base. The foliage shapes itself into 3 or 4 leaf divisions, each resembling a vase shape.
New leaves that come out are so pale green they almost look white. Water it every week or two or once a month in the colder months.
27. Mother-in-Law’s Tongue (Dracaena Trifasciata)
This variety has deep green leaves striped to look a bit like snakeskin. It will grow up to 5 feet tall, so make sure you keep it somewhere roomy enough.
Water it every week or so, and less in the winter, and look for pale green tubular flowers in the spring and reddish-orange berries when the plant is mature.
The terms ‘snake plant’ and ‘Mother-in-Law’s Tongue’ are often used interchangeably as a common name. Even though many snake plants are grouped with these names, this particular one is the most common Snake plant sold.
The flat, sword-shaped leaves grow upwards from rosette-shaped foliage at the bottom.
28. Rhino Grass (Dracaena Desert)
Rhino Grass is a perennial with cylindrical, pointed, dark green leaves that will grow 1 or 2 feet tall.
This flowering succulent is native to river banks, savannah forests, and places with summer rainfall.
This variety of Snake plant grows well in the sun or shade. Water it every week or two or less often in the winter.
The leaves are tough and grow in two different ranks. They are primarily dark green and have little blackish-green bands when mature and little light green bands when young.
As the plant ages, the leaves develop grooves and clusters of pink flowers.
29. Samurai Dwarf (Dracaena Ehrenbergii ‘Samural Dwarf’)
With brown and white-edged green leaves, the Samural Dwarf is one of the smallest varieties.
It’s a cultivar of Dracaena Ehrenbergii, which might surprise you since that one is a very tall variety! Like most other Snake plants, this one likes to be watered once every week or two, and less in the winter.
It’s happy with anything from full sun to full shade. The pointed leaves grow in opposite directions, but if you look down from above, it’s like a flower shape.
Since Samurai Dwarf is a small houseplant, it’s nice to have on a table and will fit in even the tiniest home.
30. Sayuri (Dracaena Aubrytiana ‘Sayuri’)
With pretty white, blue, and silvery stripes along its light green leaves, Sayuri is a pretty snake plant.
Like most other varieties, it must be watered every week or two or less in winter. However, this snake plant likes to be in full sun. It will grow up to 1½ feet tall.
Sometimes known as Silver Dracaena is a Dracaena Gabriella and Dracaena Cylindrica hybrid. Its metallic appearance is pretty, although it doesn’t always flower. However, if the plant does bloom, you will get lightly scented pale green flowers.
It grows in a rosette shape, although it’s hard to see the pattern as the leaves are long. The stiff leaves of Sayuri are wide and sword-shaped and stay pointed upward, so you can put it in a tight corner.
31. Silver Queen Dracaena (Dracaena Trifasciata ‘Silver Queen’)
This beautiful perennial can grow up to 3 feet high. It has silvery-looking pale green leaves which give it a unique, exotic appearance.
Like Dracaena Trifasciata, this one has flat, fleshy, sword-shaped leaves and, like some other varieties, boasts light green bands across each leaf.
Water it once every week or two, less in the winter, and keep it wherever you want because it’s happy in either shade or sun.
Enjoy it yourself, or buy it as a gift. Silver Queen Dracaena looks so pretty with the silvery foliage and is a low-maintenance choice.
32. Somali (Dracaena Eilensis)
An evergreen perennial with light-striped cylindrical leaves, Somali can grow up to 3 feet high.
It’s fine being watered every week or two or less in the winter but doesn’t do well in the shade, so make sure it has filtered, bright light.
This succulent grows more slowly than many other varieties of sansevieria, and it has rough leaves which curl downwards. You will see a few greenish-blue leaves on mature plants.
As well as these horizontal stripes, Somali has green vertical stripes that mark where the leaves fold in. Flowers aren’t common but you might get some blooms a maximum of once yearly.
33. Starfish (Dracaena Cylindrica ‘Boncel’)
As you might expect, this succulent plant gets its name because it resembles the shape of a starfish. The leaves come from a rosette-shaped base and grow outwards instead of upright.
The foliage might curl a little as the plant ages because of gravity.
Give the starfish snake plant is a perennial succulent, water once every week or two, or less in the winter, and it should grow up to 1 foot tall.
The green leaves have greenish-gray stripes on them at irregular intervals. So although you can grow Starfish in the shade, it probably won’t produce its light pink flowers unless it gets filtered, bright light.
34. Twisted Sister (Dracaena Trifasciata ‘Twisted Sister’)
The green-gold foliage on Twisted Sister curls up as it matures. This perennial grows to about 15 inches tall.
Water it every week or two, less in the winter, and keep it in any light condition, from shaded to sunny. It does do better in bright light, though.
The variegated foliage has leaves that twist up as they grow upward, hence the name. Twisted Sister looks like the Bird’s Nest snake plant because of the twisted foliage and shade.
35. Variegated (Dracaena Trifasciata Laurentii’)
The Variegated snake plant is simple to care for with its pretty, yellow-edged green leaves. It’s a perennial that can reach 3 or 4 feet high.
It’s okay being watered every week or two in the summer or monthly in the winter and can withstand most conditions, including shady and sunny.
Although only a little upkeep is required with the Snake plant cultivar, it will need to be repotted at certain times.
36. Whitney Dracaena (Dracaena Trifasciata ‘Whitney’)
Little leaves with white-spotted edges growing up for 4 to 6 rosettes give this snake plant an attractive look. If you are often traveling, Whitney Dracaena is a forgiving plant.
It’s a drought-tolerant perennial which is fine being watered every week or two or less during the winter and doesn’t mind how much sun or shade it gets.
You can keep this plant pretty much anywhere in the house, but somewhere bright and sunny will make the colors more vibrant.
37. Yoat’s Horn (Dracaena Canaliculata)
Growing up to 3 feet high, Yoat’s Horn has cylindrical leaves.
This perennial succulent is native to Northern Madagascar’s tropical coastal areas. The leaves have linear grooves and grow singularly.
Yoat’s Horn can be upright, or it might have some curvature. Water it once every week or so and less in the winter.
This isn’t one of the most common types of snake plant but the lack of distinctive markings on the foliage makes it unusual.
Did You Find The Type of Snake Plant You Were Looking For?
If you’re looking for low-maintenance and attractive houseplants, or you want something for a tiny living space that will grow upwards rather than outwards, snake plants are worth considering.
Most varieties are happy with most temperature and lighting conditions and they don’t need to be watered much. However, every variety is slightly different, so make sure you choose the best fit for your living space.
Something else you can do is remove shoots from your plant since they make great gifts for friends and family, even those who don’t have much of a green thumb!
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Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.