Snake Plant (Laurentii)

The plant that survives being ignored

Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii' grows as a cluster of stiff, upright, sword-shaped leaves — grey-green with darker banding across them and a bright yellow margin running the full length of each blade. It is architectural in a way few houseplants are, holding a vertical line that suits a narrow corner, a hallway, or the space beside a desk.

It is also close to indestructible. It stores water in its leaves and rhizomes, and it evolved in West African drylands where nothing is reliable. Neglect is not a problem for this plant; attention usually is.

Light

Low to bright indirect light. It genuinely tolerates a dark bedroom corner or an office lit only by ceiling tubes, which is why it ends up in those places. It grows faster and keeps the yellow edging brighter nearer a window, but it will not collapse without one. The only thing to avoid is harsh direct summer sun through glass, which bleaches the leaves.

Water

Every three to four weeks, letting the soil dry out completely in between, and less again in winter — once every six weeks through January is not unreasonable. Every Snake Plant that dies, dies from watering. The leaves stay firm and upright when it is happy; the first sign of trouble is a leaf going soft and yellow at the base, and by then water has been sitting too long. Water the soil, not down into the crown.

Air and placement

It is one of the better-documented air-purifying houseplants and, unusually, continues releasing oxygen at night, which is the reason it is so often recommended for bedrooms. It is comfortable in ordinary room temperatures and does not need humidity.

Soil and potting

A gritty, free-draining mix in a pot with a drainage hole, and keep it snug — Snake Plants flower and grow best when slightly pot-bound, and a large pot of wet soil is exactly what causes rot. See the repotting guide for dividing a crowded clump, which is also how you propagate it.

Good to know

Sansevieria is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, and the upright leaves are unfortunately attractive to cats. Place it where they cannot reach. For a genuinely pet-safe alternative that tolerates similar light, look at the Window Haworthia.

Our guide to the best indoor plants for Islamabad apartments covers where this one earns its place.