Snake Plant vs ZZ Plant
Quick answer
If you’ve killed every houseplant you’ve ever owned, start here. Snake plant and ZZ plant are two of the most drought-tolerant, low-light-tolerant houseplants available. But they’re not identical: here’s what separates them.
Side by side
| Snake Plant (Sansevieria) | ZZ Plant | |
|---|---|---|
| Common shape | Upright sword-like leaves | Arching stems with glossy oval leaflets |
| Water storage | Thick leaves store moisture | Thick rhizomes (root bulbs) store water |
| Origin | West Africa | East Africa |
| Growth speed | Slow to moderate | Slow: one of the slowest-growing |
| Light | Low light tolerant | |
| Watering | When the soil has dried out completely | |
| Difficulty | Easy: tolerates irregular watering | |
| Pet safety | Toxic to cats and dogs | |
Water storage
Origin
Growth speed
Light
Difficulty
Pet safetyWhich should you choose?
Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
Choose Snake Plant if you want an upright plant. Its sword-like leaves fit narrow shelves and tight corners, and it grows a little faster than the ZZ plant.
ZZ Plant
Choose ZZ Plant if you travel often or forget to water. Its thick rhizomes store water, and it goes longer between waterings than the snake plant.
Still unsure? Take the ZZ Plant. Both survive real neglect, but it goes longest between waterings.
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Which is better for a dark room, Snake Plant or ZZ Plant?
Neither has an edge: both tolerate low light equally well, so choose on shape or watering instead. Both grow more slowly the darker it gets, and neither lasts long in a room with no window unless it gets a grow light.
How long can these plants go without water?
Water each one only when its soil has dried out completely, as the table above says. The ZZ plant usually waits longer than the snake plant, and both wait much longer in winter. The ZZ plant’s rhizomes hold more water than most common houseplants, so it is hard to kill by underwatering.
Are Snake Plant and ZZ Plant safe for cats?
No, both are toxic to cats and dogs. If you need a low-light plant that is pet-safe, consider the Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) or the Cast-iron plant (Aspidistra elatior), both of which tolerate low light and are non-toxic.
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