Sansevieria Bird Nest Types and Other Odd Snakeplants

Probably as well-known as the tall sansevierias are the low, squashed-down types known as-birds-nest. Whoever gave them that name, I don’t know, but I’m practically positive it wasn’t an ornithologist! Oh well, at least it’s a catchy common name, and after the previous tongue-tangling paragraphs, I’m in favor of it.

Here we find Sansevieria Hahnii, a dense rosette of dark green leaves with gray-green crossbands, and its variety, Sansevieria Hahnii aureostriata, having two or three broad bands of yellow and several longitudinal yellow stripes. These are choice “dish-garden” plants, not only because of their compact shape but also because of their durability.

One odd sort I came across while searching for a “different” sansevieria was Sansevieria cylindrica, which has dark green leaves marked with faint light green bands. The difference is that the leaves are cylindrical instead of being flat or concave. The plant has somewhat the fan shape which is also found in Sansevieria Ehrenbergi, a much more colorful plant with red and white pencil stripes on the upper margins of its bluish leaves. Another unusual type I have become mildly fond of is Sansevieria arborescens, a sort of tree-like plant wholly unlike the customary stemless varieties. This, by the way, has white edges on dull green leaves.

Between the tall uprights, and the low flat ones we find Sansevieria cornui, having flat, dark green leaves banded in lighter green, and Sansevieria subspicata, with broad flat leaves having brown edges. To me, these are the least attractive of the whole clan—the first looks like a poorly-grown birds-nest type and the latter like a sick aspidistra, but they are among the ones available, while dozens of other more attractive ones are not.

Sansevierias are primarily foliage plants, but when conditions suit them, they are likely to burst suddenly and unexpectedly into glorious bloom. The psychological reaction, for most sansevieria-owners, is comparable to finding a peacock on their front lawn! A fellow-writer who described the plants as “inelegant” either never saw one in bloom or else needs new bifocals. I grant that individually the flowers are not much, but borne in racemes a foot long, on tall, stout scapes, they make a lovely display. The blossoms are usually white or cream, sometimes greenish (those of Sansevieria cylindrica have a pinkish color), and are often fragrant.

The plants are easily increased by division; since most sansevierias sucker freely, this is usually the preferred method of propagation. They may also be increased by cutting the leaves into three-inch lengths, and inserting the lower third of these in damp sand. With this method, however, the yellow banding or marginal stripes may be lost, with the new plants reverting to type.

Most sansevieria leaves look grimy, and in many cases the markings are so faint as to go unnoticed. I have found that leaf-shine brings out their full coloration, and improves the plants’ appearance a hundredfold. It also makes the plants easier to cleanse of dust (no small item in my home, where dust is a constant problem!).

As you undoubtedly know, Sansevierias are succulents; therefore the recommendation for them is heavy soil and cautious watering, especially during the winter. This is undoubtedly correct when plants are grown in clay pots, but I have found that plants used in planters do better in a sandy loam with humus added, and I water mine whenever they seem to need it. Watering is usually a matter of personal judgment, anyway; few plants should be kept constantly wet, but even fewer should ever he allowed to suffer from lack of moisture.

Sansevierias adapt to almost any temperature and light conditions. True, the plants will freeze if it gets too cold, and sunburn if it is too hot, and no plant will grow in absolute darkness. But they will tolerate very dim light for long periods, and can be used in many places where other plants would scarcely survive a week.

Too many people lose half the beauty of their plants (not only sansevierias, but others, too) by not displaying them properly. Some varieties of sansevieria, notably those whose silhouettes are unusual, deserve to be grown as individual specimens; others look better when used in group plantings. Heaven forbid that I should encourage anyone to mix sansevieria and philodendron, – culture-wise, that is an improbable combination to start with, and esthetically it leaves much to be desired. But sansevierias look (and grow) well with other succulents, such as gasterias and haworthias, whose leaves are similar in shape but so different in color and texture. Or they may be combined with crassulas or even with kleinias or the sedums.

Now that you know there is more to the Sansevieria genus than just one or two species, I hope you’ll try some new ones. You’ll find that all of them are durable, and many are truly beautiful, and anyone can grow them.

by K Walker

Related Articles Of Interest:

• Sansevierias Well-Known Strangers …
• Sansevieria – The Snake Plant A Durable Houseplant
• Apartment Dwellers Insurance… Sansevieria
• Sansevieria – When You Need Tough Indoor House Plant