Snake plant
Dracaena trifasciata (formerly Sansevieria trifasciata) · also called Mother-in-law’s tongue
Foliage and indoor
- Light
- Part sun, Shade or indoors
- Pot size
- Medium pot (about 5 to 15 litres)
- Care level
- Easy
- Year round or seasonal
- Kept year to year; in a pot, keep it above about 10 °C (50 °F)
- Pets
- ASPCA: toxic to pets
Light and position
Listed for part shade; NC State notes it tolerates low light, low humidity and cool rooms.
Size and pot
NC State says the upright leaves can reach 4 feet long. Our pot band: medium pot (about 5 to 15 litres).
Watering
From spring to autumn let the soil dry between waterings. In winter NC State suggests watering only every one to two months. Overwatering causes root rot.
Potting mix and feeding
Well-drained mix in a pot with a drainage hole.
Growing through the year
Divide crowded clumps, or root leaf or stem cuttings.
Winter outdoors
Cold limit in a pot: about 10 °C (50 °F). NC State says it tolerates cool temperatures around 50 °F, so we use 50 °F as its limit.
| Your coldest winter nights | What to do |
|---|---|
| Coldest nights 15 °C or warmer | Can stay out through this winter |
| Coldest nights 10 to 15 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 10 °C |
| Coldest nights 5 to 10 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 10 °C |
| Coldest nights 0 to 5 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 10 °C |
| Light frost: nights down to about −5 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 10 °C |
| Hard frost: nights below −5 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 10 °C |
A plant can stay out only when its limit is below the coldest night in your band; a limit equal to that night counts as needing shelter. A rare cold snap, wind or a wet pot can still damage plants. We convert °F to °C with NIST’s formula.
Watch for
Mealybugs and spider mites; soggy soil.
Pets and people
ASPCA lists snake plant as toxic to dogs and cats (saponins). Signs include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
General gardening information, not professional advice. Plant toxicity details are a starting point, not veterinary or medical advice: if a pet or child may have eaten a plant, contact a veterinarian or doctor promptly.
Care level: NC State’s maintenance rating (Low). Pot band and summary wording are ours, based on the sources below.