Snake plant varieties

Choose a snake plant form by your space and light: Hahnii stays a dwarf rosette, while taller forms suit a floor planter. All-green examples tolerate lower light.

Plant coveredSansevieria trifasciataSnake plant · Mother-in-law's tongue · indoor container

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Plant names and labels

Taxonomy
Dracaena trifasciata is Kew’s accepted name. Sansevieria trifasciata is its homotypic synonym and remains the familiar horticultural name.
Group
Useful houseplant groups include tall upright sword-leaf plants, compact dwarf rosettes such as Hahnii, larger floor-planter forms such as Laurentii, and variegated or silver-leaved forms.

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How the varieties differ

Examples include ‘Hahnii’ as a dwarf rosette, ‘Laurentii’ with yellow edges, ‘Moonshine’ with silvery-gray leaves and green margins, and ‘Bantel’s Sensation’ with white stripes.

Change care only for a named difference

Care differences

For placement, RHS recommends all-green examples such as ‘Pineapple’, ‘Moonshine’ and ‘Hahnii’ for low-light locations, while all forms suit brighter light. Taller trifasciata plants may flop in particularly low light.

Treat an unverified identity as uncertain

Limits of plant labels

Sources