Choosing a snake plant to add to your indoor collection involves considering the numerous variations available. With a diverse array of shapes and sizes, snake plants are versatile additions to any living space. Learn about the plethora of snake plant varieties below!
African Spear Dracaena
African Spear Dracaena showcases long, cylindrical, greyish-green leaves adorned with light green stripes.
Scientific name: Dracaena angolensis
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial succulent
Plant Size: Up to 6-7 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, monthly during winter
Sun Needs: Full shade to full sun
Dracaena angolensis, also known as African Spear Dracaena or Cylindrical Snake Plant, is identified by its unique cylindrical leaves showcasing greyish-green shading with light green stripes.
Its noteworthy feature is the braiding of its bendable young leaves, giving this plant a distinctive aesthetic appeal.
Aloe Guineensis features sword-shaped olive green leaves.
Scientific name: Dracaena hyacinthoides
Plant Type: Hardy perennial
Plant Size: 2-4 feet tall
Water Needs: Every other week or monthly during winter
Sun Needs: Moderate to Bright Indirect Sunlight
Aloe Guineensis, or Dracaena hyacinthoides, considered a weed in Africa, is a resilient and easy-to-care-for houseplant known for its ability to purify the air.
Its olive-green leaves, resembling a sword, produce tall flower spikes with greenish-white small tubular flowers clustered together.
Bantel’s Sensation Dracaena
Bantel’s Sensation is characterized by its long, slender leaves with white stripes.
Plant Size: Up to 3 feet tall, taller in bright light
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, monthly in winter
Sun Needs: Full shade to full sun
Bantel’s Sensation, also known as the “White Dracaena,” boasts lengthy variegated leaves, giving it a unique charm brought by attractive white stripes.
Originating from Africa, this striking plant can produce long vertical flower stalks with greenish-white flower clusters.
The Black Dragon is characterized by its dark-green glossy leaves, and it belongs to the dwarf plant variety.
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Full shade to full sun
Recognizable for its pretty rosette-shaped growth patterns, the Black Dragon flaunts flat, succulent leaves with a deep shade of green that often appears almost black to the observer. These leaves feature subtle green horizontal bands that blend seamlessly into the lush foliage.
Although Black Dragons rarely bloom, when they do, they showcase vertical flower stalks laden with clusters of buds that eventually blossom into small, tubular, green to creamy-white flowers, imparting a delicate aroma.
Black Gold
Black Gold thrives in full and partial shade, boasting dark green leaves with vibrant yellow margins.
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Full shade to full sun
The Black Gold Snake Plant is a low-maintenance perennial variety that prospers in both full and partial shade environments. Its striking deep green leaves contrast beautifully with the bright yellow-gold edges, making it a visually enchanting choice for indoor settings.
Belonging to the Agavaceae family and indigenous to India and Africa, the Black Gold plant’s tight vertical growth habit makes it an ideal option for compact spaces.
Bird’s Nest
Bird’s Nest exhibits broad dark leaves with distinctive white horizontal stripes.
Scientific name: Dracaena trifasciata ‘Hahnii’
Plant Type: Evergreen perennial
Plant Size: Up to 1 foot tall
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Full Shade to full sun
Featuring a stemless and rapidly spreading growth habit, Bird’s Nest is an evergreen succulent that effortlessly propagates by simply separating new growth shoots.
Named by Sylvan Hahn in 1938, the Dracaena trifasciata ‘Hahnii’ cultivar showcases dark, broad green leaves adorned with creamy white horizontal stripes. The lance-shaped leaves taper smoothly towards the tips and create an elegant rosette-shaped foliage arrangement, resembling a bird’s nest – hence its common name.
Occasionally, the Bird’s Nest variety may produce vertical flower stalks bearing elegant creamy green-white blooms, enhancing its aesthetic appeal.
Blue Dracaena
Blue Dracaena showcases thick leaves with pointed edges growing in two opposite rows, resembling a fan.
Scientific name: Dracaena hanningtonii
Plant Type: Evergreen perennial
Plant Size: Up to 5 feet tall
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Full Shade to full sun
Hailing from tropical Africa and Asia, Dracaena hanningtonii is an evergreen flowering plant renowned for its resilience in various environmental conditions, provided it’s not excess watered.
The Blue Dracaena foliage is harvested in Ethiopia for fibers used in crafting straps, brushes, and ties. Its botanical name honors Christian Ehrenberg, with the plant being initially discovered by Willhelm Kattwinkel in 1911.
The plant’s foliage, characterized by thick, pointed leaves growing in pairs creating a fan-like shape, exhibits a bluish-green hue with reddish-brown and white edges and tips for added visual interest. Each leaf uniquely curves inwards, forming a deep valley within the lance-shaped structure.
Distinctively, this snake plant can produce delicate grayish-white tubular flowers emerging from the base in multiple upward branches.
Ceylon Bowstring Hemp
Ceylon Bowstring Hemp features green leaves with subtle pale green horizontal stripes.
Scientific name: Dracaena zeylanica
Plant Type: Evergreen perennial
Plant Size: Reaches heights of 2-3 feet and spans up to 1 foot in width
Watering Requirements: Ideally watered every 1-2 weeks, with reduced watering to once per month in winter
Sunlight Needs: Thrives in full shade to partial sun conditions
Often confused with the popular Mother-in-Law’s Tongue (Dracaena trifasciata), Dracaena zeylanica bears a striking resemblance yet possesses subtle differentiating characteristics.
Characterized by long, upright sword-shaped leaves, the olive-green foliage of Dracaena zeylanica displays pale green wavy horizontal stripes.
Distinct from its snake plant counterpart, this variety, known as Ceylon Bowstring Hemp, sports shorter, more erect leaves and sporadically blooms with clusters of greenish-white flowers.
Cleopatra Dracaena
Cleopatra Dracaena prefers to grow in warm and bright light, does not require frequent watering.
Scientific name: Dracaena cleopatra
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Size: Grows up to 10 inches tall
Watering Needs: Best watered every 1-2 weeks, with reduced watering to once per month during winter
Light Requirements: Flourishes in full shade to full sun exposure
Dracaena cleopatra, an exquisite, slow-growing hybrid, showcases intricately patterned leaves that form a perfect rosette. Originating from Africa, Madagascar, and southern Asia, this flowering succulent adorns spaces with its unique beauty.
Adaptable to shady settings, Dracaena cleopatra thrives in warm, well-lit environments; however, moderation in watering is crucial to prevent root rot, a common issue that can be fatal for this sturdy plant.
Despite its diminutive stature, this variety demands dense cactus soil blends to support its growth and stability, preventing toppling common among upward-reaching snake plants.
Dracaena Ballyi
Ballyi Dracaena produces cylindrical leaves with brown tips.
Scientific name: Dracaena Ballyi
Plant Type: Evergreen perennial
Plant Size: Reaches heights of 5-6 inches
Watering Needs: Best watered every 1-2 weeks, with reduced watering to once per month during winter
Light Requirements: Flourishes in full shade to full sun exposure
Dracaena Ballyi showcases slender cylindrical leaves featuring distinctive red-brown tips that taper to a point. Each leaf’s rough texture bears grooves extending from the base along three-fourths of its length.
Introduced by Swiss botanist Dr. Peter Bally, renowned for his work in Kenya, this plant, also known as Dwarf Snake Plant, offers a unique aesthetic appeal.
An alternate cultivar named “Minnie” boasts compact, stubby leaves expanding about two inches wide before sprouting stolons.
This variety adorns spaces with white, bottle-shaped flower spikes clustered sporadically without impeding its longevity or leaf production.
Dracaena Burmanica
There are 13 leaves that grow on the Dracaena Burmanica plant.
Scientific name: Dracaena Burmanica
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Size: Reaches heights of up to 3 feet
Watering Needs: Best watered every 1-2 weeks, with reduced watering to once per month in winter
Light Requirements: Flourishes in full shade to full sun exposure
Hailing from tropical West African woodlands, Dracaena Burmanica thrives in warm, well-illuminated conditions.
While it’s adaptable to shade, this plant displays vibrant grassy-green leaves adorned with bright stripes, growing in a distinct rosette arrangement featuring 13 upright leaves.
Over time, the leaf margins can transition from green to white, adding to the visual intrigue of this striking plant.
This snake plant variety is on the shorter side, growing only 12-18 inches high.
Scientific name: Dracaena Concinna
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Size: Grows to heights of 1-1.5 feet
Watering Needs: Best watered every 1-2 weeks, with reduced watering to once per month in winter
Light Requirements: Flourishes in full shade to full sun exposure
Dracaena Concinna presents as a remarkably slow-growing variant. Standing shorter than its counterparts, this species attains a modest height of 1-1.5 feet upon maturity.
Known for its unique attributes, the Dracaena Concinna stands out among taller species that typically reach heights of 3-6 feet.
This variety adds diversity to plant collections with its distinctive growth pattern, offering unique appeal even in smaller spaces.
Ideal size appeals to many due to its larger-than-dwarf stature and moderate growth rate.
Uniquely, its elliptical leaves form a distinctive spoon shape, an attribute accentuated by bright light conditions.
The dark olive-green foliage features irregular pale green bands, adding to its ornamental appeal.
Several cultivars of this plant exist, with some, like Dracaena Concinna ‘Sybaja Lake’, being more challenging to come by.
Clusters of yellowish or purplish-white flowers emerge from the roots, adding a touch of color to the plant.
Dracaena Liberica
Dracaena Liberica boasts dark green leaves that transform to a gray hue with maturity.
Scientific name: Dracaena Liberica
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Size: 3-4 feet tall, sometimes more
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Full Shade to full sun
Considered an environmental weed in Queensland, Dracaena Liberica remains a popular decorative choice in many U.S. households.
It’s vital to monitor growth outdoors, as unchecked planting may lead to extensive, wild colonizations.
With deepening maturity, the plant develops wider, deep green leaves that gradually adopt a grayish tone, imparting a soothing aesthetic.
Fernwood Mikado, characterized by dense foliage with pale green stripes, is an elegant evergreen perennial that thrives in various light conditions.
Water Needs: Require watering once every 1-2 weeks, decreasing to once a month during winter
Sun Needs: Thrive in full shade to full sun environments
Dracaenabacularis ‘Fernwood Mikado‘, often mistaken for Dracaena Bacularis, is a hybrid blending Dracaena Suffructicosa and Dracaena Parva, featuring unique mature characteristics that distinguish it. Its cylindrical leaves with vertical grooves and distinctive growth pattern set it apart from other Dracaena varieties.
Capable of flowering annually, Fernwood Mikado charms with delicate white blossoms, adding a touch of elegance to its dense foliage.
Fischeri Singularis Dracaena
Indoor favorite, Fischeri Singularis Dracaena, adapts well to both indoor and outdoor settings in specific climates.
Scientific name: Dracaena Fischeri
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Size: Can reach heights of up to 2 feet
Water Needs: Keep moist, watering once every 1-2 weeks, with reduced watering in the winter
Sun Needs: Thrives in full shade to full sun conditions
Dracaena Fischeri boasts deep green stems with a striking gray banded pattern. When mature, its cupped leaves retain a rich color. This hardy plant can endure extended periods of neglect, making it ideal for indoor gardens and office spaces.
With a potential for delicate, lightly scented flowers in the spring and early summer, Dracaena Fischeri adds an extra element of charm to its resilience.
Francisii Dracaena
Known for its vibrant dark green foliage with distinctive light wavy stripes, Francisii Dracaena stands out among snake plant varieties.
Scientific name: Dracaena Francisii
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Size: Can grow up to 2 feet tall
Water Needs: Water every 1-2 weeks, reduce watering in winter
Sun Needs: Flourishes in full shade to full sun conditions
Dracaena Francisii stands out with its spiral-shaped densely packed row of leaves on each stem. It exhibits bright dark green foliage complemented with vertical green lines and distinctive wavy stripes.
Despite its rarity, this succulent may surprise you with tiny whitish-green tubular flowers, adding an extra touch of uniqueness to its appearance.
Gracillis Dracaena
Featuring conical, folded light green leaves in graceful rosettes, Gracillis Dracaena adds a touch of elegance to any indoor space.
Scientific name: Dracaenagracilis
Plant Type: Evergreen perennial
Plant Size: Reaches heights of 2-3 feet
Water Needs: Water every 1-2 weeks, reduce watering in winter
Sun Needs: Prefer bright, filtered light
Renowned for its striking appearance, Dracaenagracilis showcases mesmerizing spiral-patterned pale green leaves in rosettes, adding a unique touch to any indoor garden.
Boasting fragrant six-stellate yellowish-green flowers during the late fall to early winter period, this variety thrives in hanging baskets or planters, enhancing the aesthetics of any space.
Jade Marginata
Jade Marginata produces dark green glossy leaves with bright yellow streaks.
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Full Shade to full sun
Jade Marginata, or Dracaena trifasciata ‘Jade Pagoda’, is a dwarf variety of Mother-in-Law’s Tongue. It is a variegated cultivar of the popular Bird’s Nest Snake Plant, though its rosette formation resembles Hahnii varieties.
Recognizable by its dark, glossy green leaves with bright yellow vertical stripes, this succulent is an easy-to-grow plant that serves as beautiful ornamentation in any room in the home.
Aside from its aesthetic appeal, the Jade Marginata acts as a small air purifier by producing oxygen during the night, just like other Dracaenas.
Kenya Hyacinth
Kenya Hyacinth is characterized by bright green leaves with light horizontal stripes that disappear as they mature.
Scientific name: Dracaena Parva
Plant Type: Evergreen perennial
Plant Size: 1-1.5 feet tall
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Full Shade to full sun
Kenya Hyacinth Snake Plant, or Dracaena Parva, is a flowering evergreen perennial native to East African forests. Its slow growth rate allows for prolonged enjoyment in the same container.
Unlike most Dracaena varieties, Dracaena Parva blooms and emits a hyacinth-like fragrance, making it a delightful addition that can flower regularly.
Discovered and described by Nicolas Edward Brown in 1915, this species features narrow, slightly concave lance-shaped leaves. Young plants exhibit bright green leaves with light horizontal bands that fade into deep green as they mature.
Kirkii Star Dracaena
Kirkii Star Dracaena is a slow-growing variety that produces fleshy leaves that can drop closer to the ground as they mature.
Scientific name: Dracaena kirkii ‘Baker’
Plant Type: Evergreen perennial
Plant Size: Up to 3-3.5 feet tall
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Full Shade to full sun
Kirkii Star Dracaena is an evergreen perennial native to tropical regions, known for its unique cone-shaped blossoms. Its slow growth and fleshy leaves spreading in a crown-like shape contribute to its distinct appearance.
Among the slowest-growing snake plant varieties, Dracaena Kirkii, including cultivars like Dracaena Kirkii var. Pulchra, var. Silver Blue Variegated, var. Pulchra Coppertone, and var. Silver Blue, offers a diverse range of choices for plant enthusiasts.
Mason’s Congo Dracaena
Mason’s Congo Dracaena is able to absorb harmful toxins, purifying the air.
Scientific name: Dracaena Masoniana
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Size: Up to 5 feet tall
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Full Shade to full sun
Mason’s Congo Dracaena, also known as Whale’s Fin, is an evergreen perennial semi-succulent plant with broad leaves reminiscent of a beaver’s tail or paddles, narrowing at the base.
This distinctive snake plant has the capability of absorbing harmful toxins, making it an ideal choice for purifying the air in your living space.
Standing tall at an impressive five feet, the Dracaena Masoniana boasts a size larger than its counterparts, enhancing its proficiency in purifying the surrounding air by effectively absorbing toxins and harmful pollutants.
Moreover, the Metallica Siam Silver, also known as Tenzan or Tom Grumbley, is a rare snake plant variety distinguished by its stemless succulent nature. It showcases exquisite pale green leaves adorned with delicate gray vertical lines that lend the foliage a striking silvery metallic appearance. This plant also produces clusters of flowers in the top third, emitting a sweet fragrance, along with reddish-orange berries.
On the other hand, the Moonshine Dracaena, a perennial succulent, features remarkable silvery-green wide leaves that gracefully rise from the ground. The foliage’s upright growth pattern forms distinct sections of 3-4 leaves, creating a vase-like shape. New leaves emerge in a pale green hue, almost resembling a pristine white color, adding to its unique charm. This plant also blooms with lightly scented white flowers, especially thriving in bright light conditions.
Another notable member of the snake plant family is the Mother-In-Law’s Tongue, scientifically known as Dracaena Trifasciata. Renowned for its dark green leaves patterned with a green striped design reminiscent of snakeskin, this plant showcases sword-shaped, flat leaves that grow upright, forming a basal rosette structure. During the spring, mature plants may produce tiny greenish-white tubular flowers on an upright stalk, ultimately followed by the appearance of small orangish-red berries.
Lastly, the Rhino Grass, also known as Dracaena Desert, is an intriguing flowering succulent native to savanna forests and riverbank areas. Its distinctive dark green leaves are pointed and cylindrical, arranged in two ranks with barely visible greenish-black bands. As the plant matures, the leaves develop longitudinal grooves, and it produces clusters of small pinkish blooms with a grayish-blue base.
In conclusion, when seeking captivating and low-maintenance plant companions, these varieties of Dracaena, with their unique characteristics and easy-care requirements, stand out as excellent choices for both novice and experienced plant enthusiasts alike.Samurai Dwarf is a unique cultivar of Dracaena Ehrenbergii, sporting adorable short green leaves with red-brown and white edges, reaching only 4-6 inches in height.
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Full Shade to full sun
This diminutive Samurai Dwarf is an interesting variant of the typically taller Dracaena Ehrenbergii. With its compact size and unique foliage, this plant makes for a perfect decorative accent piece ideally suited for tabletops and easy to move around.
Boasting pointy leaves that grow in opposite directions, forming a floral-like pattern when viewed from above, this species stands out.
Sayuri
Characterized by its silver-like stripes running along its leaves, the Sayuri Snake Plant is a hybrid of Dracaena Cylindrica and Dracaena Gabriella.
Scientific name: Dracaena aubrytiana ‘Sayuri’
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Size: Up to 1.5 feet tall
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Full sun
The Sayuri, also known as the Silver Dracaena, exhibits a striking appearance with its pale grayish-green leaves adorned with vertical blue, silver, and white stripes. The silvery metallic coloration of its foliage sets it apart, making it an ideal choice for compact home spaces.
Featuring stiff, upright leaves with a broad sword-like shape that stays upright, this plant is perfect for corners within a living space.
Silver Queen Dracaena
True to its name, the Silver Queen Dracaena stands out with its stunning pale grayish-green leaves reminiscent of silver in appearance.
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Full Shade to full sun
The Silver Queen snake plant, with its flat, fleshy sword-shaped leaves and light green bands, is a delightful addition to any indoor space.
This variety’s silver-white foliage adds an exotic touch to interiors, making it a low-maintenance and visually appealing choice for beginner gardeners.
Somali
Somali Snake Plants feature downward-curving rough leaves with bluish-green hues and horizontal white bands, growing up to 3 feet in height.
Scientific name: Dracaena Eilensis
Plant Type: Evergreen perennial
Plant Size: Up to 3 feet
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Bright, filtered light
Dracaena Eilensis, or Somali, showcases slow-growing succulent properties, developing bluish-green leaves with horizontal white bands and green vertical stripes.
Occasionally blooming, this cultivar offers a unique garden addition with its folding leaf patterns and a slightly bluish tint.
Starfish
Named for its resemblance to a sea star, the Starfish Snake Plant boasts green leaves with a greyish horizontal pattern, emitting a coastal vibe.
Scientific name: Dracaena Cylindrica ‘Boncel’
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Size: Up to 1 foot tall
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Full Shade to full sun
Resembling its oceanic namesake, the Starfish displays leaves emerging from a rosette, curving outwards as they grow, with a distinctive green-on-gray pattern.
Standing at merely a foot in height, this variety remains relatively petite, ideal for compact indoor settings, adding a coastal touch to your decor.
Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister produces bright golden-green foliage that curls as it matures.
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Full Shade to full sun
Featuring vibrant gold and green variegated foliage, the Twisted Sister Snake Plant’s leaves twist uniquely, creating an appealing accent plant that can grow up to 15 inches in height. Thriving in bright, filtered sunlight, it stands out among its upright-growing counterparts.
Variegated
Variegated Snake Plant is an easy-care plant that produces bright green leaves with yellow edges.
Scientific name: Dracaena Trifasciata ‘Laurentii‘
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Size: Up to 3-4 feet tall
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Full Shade to full sun
The Dracaena Trifasciata ‘Laurentii’ stands out with its bright yellow margin-edged leaves in the world of variegated plants. Known for its easy-care nature, this variety requires little maintenance and can add vibrancy to any space.
Whitney Dracaena
Whitney Dracaena produces tin leaves whose edges are covered with white speckles.
Scientific name: Dracaena Trifasciata ‘Whitney‘
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Size: Up to 1 foot tall
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Full Shade to full sun
Featuring distinctive white-speckled margins, the Whitney Dracaena is a compact plant with stiff leaves that form elegant rosettes. Ideal for travel-loving plant enthusiasts, it requires minimal maintenance and thrives in various lighting conditions.
Yoat’s Horn
Yoat’s Horn has cylindrical leaves without distinctive markings.
Scientific name: Dracaena Canaliculata
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Size: Up to 3 feet tall
Water Needs: Once every 1-2 weeks, once per month in winter
Sun Needs: Full Shade to full sun
Originating from tropical coastal regions in Northern Madagascar, the Yoat’s Horn, or Dracaena Canaliculata, boasts singular cylindrical leaves with subtle linear grooves. Despite lacking distinctive markings, this unique variety adds an intriguing touch to any collection.
Final Thoughts
Snake plants, known for their unique features and ease of care, offer a variety of shapes and patterns. Whether with upright or cylindrical leaves, these drought-tolerant plants thrive in various conditions, making them versatile additions to any space.
While they require infrequent watering and adapt well to different light and temperature settings, each variety may have specific requirements worth considering.
James is an environmental gardener and passionate writer who holds a master's degree in agriculture. He graduated from Harvard University with a degree in environmental horticulture and has a particular interest in soil composition. Currently, James works as a researcher in plant research, where he continues to explore and advance knowledge in his field. His combined expertise in environmental gardening and soil science helps him contribute valuable insights to both academic and practical gardening communities.
James is an environmental gardener and passionate writer who holds a master's degree in agriculture. He graduated from Harvard University with a degree in environmental horticulture and has a particular interest in soil composition. Currently, James works as a researcher in plant research, where he continues to explore and advance knowledge in his field. His combined expertise in environmental gardening and soil science helps him contribute valuable insights to both academic and practical gardening communities.
