The name of this genus of plants in Russia is not always indicated in the same way: sansevieria, sansevieria, sansevieria. There are also popular names: “pike tail”, “mother-in-law’s tongue”, “snake skin”. In the UK it is called the "tiger lily".

The genus is named after the Italian prince Sanseviero, who studied botany and was an outstanding philanthropist. Sansevieria began to be grown in Europe in the 18th century.

In 1941, scientist and plant breeder S. Khan developed a new low-growing (up to 30 cm in height), rosette variety of sansevieria, which was named in honor of its creator: hanny (sansevieria hahnii). The original variety was Sansevieria Laurenti.

Subcultivars of Hahnii and their photos

Sansevieria hahnii is a compact and small plant. Its height usually does not exceed 30 cm. The leaves grow from a vase-shaped rosette and are dark green in color.

A list of hanny species is presented below.

Golden

The rosette of the plant is similar to the main variety, the difference being the golden longitudinal stripes. The Sansevieria variety Gold was developed in 1953 by S. Khan.

Christata

It is similar to the main variety in leaf color, but has a pronounced tendency to curl the edges of the leaf towards the center, which is why the leaves are folded almost in half lengthwise.

Silver (silver)

Similar in shape to the main variety, but the color of the leaves has a silvery sheen. The leaves have dark edging and transverse stripes.

Home care

From this video you will learn how to care for Sansevieria Hanni at home:

Reproduction

• The seeds of the plant are in a pod. The berries should be allowed to dry without being removed from their natural shell, and then planted in ordinary plastic pots with soil. The best place to germinate seeds is a greenhouse.
• The division of the rhizome occurs as follows: initially you need to pull the root system out of the ground, then wash it carefully, and then cut it with a knife, separating the root system along with the leaves, and plant it in a new pot with substrate.

  This process is best done in early spring so that new plants can get stronger for winter. The separated root system needs: moisture, lighting and fertilizing.

• Leaf cuttings are a rather complicated procedure. First you need to cut the whole sheet into several pieces of 6 cm each and mark the bottom part. Then you need to wait a few days. After the leaves have dried, they need to be planted in a pot with sandy soil no deeper than 2 cm. It takes about 6 weeks for rooting to occur. After this, the plant is planted in a pot with soil.

  On a note. This type of propagation has a main drawback - the process can damage the quality of the plant, so this method is rarely used.

Bloom

When flowering, the plant produces an oblong arrow, on which there are small flowers with drops of nectar under them. The aroma of flowers is delicate. A special feature of flowering is the blooming of flowers late in the day. Flowering usually occurs in April or May.

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Everyone knows the Russian fairy tale “At the command of the pike, at my will,” where the pike fulfills any wishes of its owner Emelya. I wish I could get a pike like this! A solution has been found - there is a plant, Sansevieria, which is popularly nicknamed “pike tail” for its long leaves that resemble a pike’s tail. There are rumors that if you keep such a “pike” in your home, good luck will come with it. Hence another name - “plant of good luck”.

Sansevieria care

This rugged succulent comes in several forms and is highly pest-resistant. It grows well even in low light and extreme neglect of caring for this plant. So if you have a tendency to forget about your plants, then Sansevieria is the one for you. The only thing you need to know is that Sansevieria does not like swampy soil. You should remember this and avoid overmoistening and stagnation of water. So if you have a tendency to water frequently and abundantly, then you will have to fight this habit.

1. Light. Place sansevieria in moderate light or filtered light. The plant does especially well in front of a north-facing window or in a bright, sunny window covered with a translucent curtain. Sansevieria can grow in low light, but bright light allows the colors in the leaves to emerge. The plant does not need too intense light, since the edges of its leaves turn yellow.
2. Watering. The soil must be completely dry before watering. You need to water until water drips through the drainage holes. Wait a while for the water to drain from the pot, and then remove the saucer with the drained water. Don't let the pot sit in water and don't let the soil be constantly soggy. In waterlogged soil, the roots of the plant rot. Like other succulent plants, Sansevieria stores water in its leaves, so if the soil is externally dry, do not worry that the plant is thirsty and immediately rush to water it. Watering should be moderate, especially in winter.
3. Temperature. The plant feels great at room temperature from 15 to 30℃. Sansevieria does not like drafts and low temperatures - at temperatures below 10℃ the plant is damaged.
4. Feeding. Sansevieria will not refuse feeding - once every three weeks throughout the summer. Use regular houseplant fertilizer. Just dilute them by half of what is recommended on the package. Sansevieria needs only light nutrition, and increased feeding leads to leaf fall.
5. Rubbing. Dust on the leaves can be removed by wiping them with a soft, damp cloth. However, do not let the plant shine. Vigorous rubbing may damage the leaves or make them look rusty. If any leaves are damaged, it is better to cut them off literally in the soil.
6. Transfer. When the roots of the plant completely fill the pot, there is no need to immediately try to replant it. Sansevieria blooms only when the pot is full of roots. Some gardeners replant sansevieria if the pot is already beginning to crack and the roots of the plant are breaking through them to the outside. In other words, sansevieria should be replanted only when the roots outgrow the pot. Take a new pot one size larger and fill it with light soil.

1. Growing temperature: Grows throughout the year at normal room temperatures ranging from 18 to 25 degrees Celsius.

2. Lighting: the brighter the colors of the Sansevieria leaves, the better it should be lit. Green-leaved plants grow successfully in partial shade.

3. Watering and air humidity: Dry the soil thoroughly between waterings, even during the growing season, in spring and summer - about a quarter of the depth of the pot. In autumn and winter, simply protect the soil ball from drying out completely. Air humidity should not be increased.

4. Peculiarities: Sansevieria is a slow-growing and extremely unpretentious plant that can be maintained by the most inexperienced gardeners.

5. Priming: Well-drained, nutrient-poor soil with an alkaline pH.

6. Top dressing: During the growth and flowering period, we feed fertilizers for succulent plants every month. In autumn, feeding is stopped until spring.

7. Reproduction: leaf cuttings, division during spring transplantation, very rarely - sowing seeds in spring.

Botanical name: Sansevieria.

Sansevieria domestica - family . Agave.

Homeland of the plant. The plant originates from Asia and Africa.

Description. Sansevieria or piketail are evergreen perennial plants that form rosettes of leaves.

Sansevierias are varied in appearance - some varieties reach a height of 2 m and have xiphoid, hard leaves, others are miniature and consist of triangular leaves, not exceeding 25 cm in height. The plant has no stems, the leaves of the flower are basal.

Leaf color also varied - from the familiar green to varieties with all kinds of spots and stripes - longitudinal and transverse, light green, white or yellow.

All sansevieria have a powerful creeping rhizome.

Adult sansevieria bloom with small greenish flowers located on a low peduncle in the center of the rosette.

Flowers Sansevieria have a subtle sweetish aroma.

In nature, after flowering, the bushes form small fruit- berries with 1 - 3 seeds each.

The popular names of the plant are mother-in-law's tongue or pike tail.

Height. Depends on the specific type and can range from 20 cm to 2 m., grows slowly at home.

2. Sansevieria care at home

2.1.Reproduction

Propagation is possible vegetatively - by cuttings, leaf cuttings or division large plants when transplanting.Leaves of tall plants can be divide even into several dozen parts, each of which can be rooted.

1. The division of large plants is carried out in the spring or summer in such a way that each division receives a well-developed, own root system and ground part.
2. Rooting is carried out in moist soil with a high sand content and it takes place quite easily, within 1 month.
3. Successful rooting will be indicated by new growth emerging.

Leaves can even be rooted in water- the advantage of this method is that the entire process can be observed with your own eyes.

Unfortunately, when planted in the ground, plants rooted in water take a long time to adapt and begin to grow later than those that were originally rooted in the ground.

The first leaves of plants that just appear may be solid green, but over time they will become variegated again.

2.2.Transplanting sansevieria

Indoor Sansevieria will need to be replanted only when there is a need to change the soil or the plants are frankly cramped in the pot. Some species are even capable break a cramped pot.

It is often quite difficult to replant a plant precisely because the earthen ball is completely entwined with roots and the bush is difficult to get out of the pot. Before transplanting, such flowers are watered abundantly or even soaked in water for several hours to soften the soil.

In large tub plants replace the top layer of soil for fresh in spring, instead of replanting.

Disembarkation is carried out to the same depth, on which the plant was located before transplantation.

For planting, you can choose a shallow bowl.

It is not worth watering the sansevieria immediately after transplantation - as its root system gets used to the new conditions, the first watering can be done in about a week.

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2.3.When it blooms

The plant does not often please indoor plant lovers with flowering, but it looks very attractive even without flowers.

For the onset of flowering It is important to place the plant in a cramped pot and minimize watering - these measures will stimulate the appearance of buds.

2.4.Soil

A mixture with a high content of coarse sand, well-drained with expanded clay, perlite or brick chips - garden soil, coarse sand, peat - is suitable.

You can add a small amount of sphagnum moss to the soil to retain moisture.

The substrate must have alkaline reaction ranging from 6.8 to 7 and should easily allow moisture and air to pass to the roots of the bush.

2.5.How to care

One of the easiest to grow, beautiful plants that can only be destroyed by very rough and repeated mistakes in care.

Sansevieria will easily forgive both placement in the sun and partial shade, hot climate and coolness, soil poor in nutrients, and will need replanting most often when it breaks the pot with its roots.

Tall specimens may, with age, fall over on its side - provide such plants with support and transplant them into a heavy pot.

The bushes do not need to be formed, but old, yellow leaves do. trim in a timely manner to maintain an attractive appearance. Pruning is carried out as close to the base as possible with a sharp, sterile instrument.

2.6.Diseases and pests

• In autumn and winter, with poor drainage or waterlogging of the plant soil are rotting.
• Direct sunlight on the leaves during the daytime can provoke the appearance of sunburn.
• Rust.
• If the plant is buried deep during replanting, it will rot.
• Leaf blades become wrinkled and lose turgor, the flower withers with insufficient watering.
• When grown in the shade the flower stretches out and it becomes loose.
• The leaves become sluggish if the content is too cool, move the flower to a warmer place.
• Leaf blades turn yellow with insufficient drainage and excessive watering.
• From fungal diseases Leaf spotting may occur.
• Leaves may curl up if root rot develops.

Mealybugs, spider mites, thrips.

Insects - pests

Insect name	Signs of infection	Control measures
	The surface of the leaves and shoots is covered with a fluffy, cotton-like white coating. Plants lag behind in development	Folk remedies: spraying with soap and alcohol solution. Infusions of tobacco, garlic, cyclamen tubers, alcohol treatments, and pharmacy tincture of calendula have worked well. Chemicals: green soap solution, Actellik, Fitoverm.
Spider mite	Inconspicuous cobwebs on the leaves, yellowing and falling leaves with extensive damage. The surface of the leaf plates becomes dead and covered with small cracks. Plant development slows down.	Traditional methods. Plants can be washed in the shower and left in the bathroom in a humid atmosphere for half an hour. Irradiation with an ultraviolet lamp every week for 2 minutes. Chemicals based on pyrethrum, sulfur powders, Fitoverm, Actellik.
Trips	The appearance of yellow spots on the leaf blades; small brown dots can be observed on the underside of the leaves. When pests spread, they cause leaves to turn yellow, dry out and fall off.	Traditional methods. Increase air humidity, wipe the surface of the leaves with a soap solution to reduce the number of pests. Preparations based on pyrethrum - 2-fold treatment with an interval of 7 - 10 days, spraying with tobacco infusion, infusion of yarrow or Persian chamomile, decoction of cyclamen tubers. Chemicals: dusting with sulfur powders, using anabasine sulfate in a soap solution.

2.7.Water sansevieria

Adult Sansevieria drought resistant. In spring and summer, water in such a way that between waterings the top layer of soil dries out a few centimeters.

In the winter months, the earthen ball is rarely moistened, only to prevent overdrying.

Excess moisture that appears in the pan after watering must be drained.

Ornamental Sansevieria is more likely to tolerate drought than overwatering.

2.8.Conditions of detention - lighting

Sansevieria can be grown both on sunny windowsills and in partial shade. It is believed that the plant is shade-loving, but it is more likely shade-tolerant.

Shading is only necessary on summer days.

This plant contains a large amount of chlorophyll in its leaves, so growing it in partial shade is quite acceptable.

Variegated varieties will need more sunlight - when grown in partial shade they may lose their attractive color.

Occasionally turn the pot a quarter turn around its own axis so that the plant is formed dense and symmetrical.

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2.9.Temperature

thermophilic and will endure the most intense heat without the slightest damage.

During the growth period, the plant is kept at a temperature 20°C and higher. During the winter months Not expose sansevieria to temperature below 10°C, wintering can also take place at normal room temperature.

2.10.Fertilizers

Feed this graceful plant In spring and summer fertilizers specially formulated for succulent plants.

During the dormant period, fertilizing is not carried out. The plant should be fed for the first time in the spring, when the first signs of growth appear.

2.11.Spraying

Easily tolerates dry air and does not need to increase air humidity.

Sansevieria does not like cold drafts - take the plants to another room for ventilation in the winter months and do not place them under air conditioning in the summer.

2.12.Purpose

Depending on the specific species, sansevieria can be used in both vertical gardening large spaces, as well as in small, cozy corners of the house.

2.13.Note, interesting facts

Flower capable purify the air indoors from toxins such as formaldehyde.

The plant has become widespread in indoor floriculture due to its unpretentiousness and spectacular appearance.

Variegated or variegated plants will become a bright accent in any interior.

In the southern regions, the flower is used in gardens and parks - in landscape design.

From time to time Sansevieria" crying" - releases viscous droplets of moisture on the leaf blades, reminiscent of nectar.

An interesting feature of the succulent is also that it is capable of releasing oxygen into the atmosphere of a residential building.

2.14.Hydroponics

Grows well in hydroponics.

3.Varieties:

3.1.Sansevieria Hahnii

Low-growing, short-leaved plants that form basal rosettes of spirally arranged thick, fleshy, often striped, triangular leaves. Plants are characterized by dense leaf arrangement. The color of the leaves varies and can be green with all sorts of specks and stripes - both longitudinal and transverse. Yellow-striped variations look extremely impressive. The flowers are creamy-brown, with a sweetish aroma, but flowering rarely occurs indoors. Due to its compact size and unpretentiousness to lighting (Sansevieria Hanni grows well under artificial lighting), this variety is very popular among gardeners.

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3.2.Sansevieria trifasciata

This is a large evergreen perennial plant with high basal leaves (up to 1 m in height). With proper care, this variety will last for many years. The leaves are thick, sword-shaped, pointed, dark green in color with gray-green horizontal stripes. In spring or summer, adult specimens may produce small, fragrant, greenish-white, fragrant flowers, but this phenomenon is rare in indoor culture.

Sansevieria three-lane also includes a very beautiful variety - Sansevieria Laurentii - tall, narrow-leaved plant with spectacular variegated leaves edged with a yellow stripe. Transverse dark, almost black stripes are scattered across the main green background in the center of the leaves, and along the edges of the leaf blades there is a wide yellowish border.

3.3. Cylindrical Sansevieria - Sansevieria cylindrica

An interesting species, with tall, sometimes gracefully arched, rounded, tubular leaves of a dark green color with silvery transverse stripes. The leaves reach a diameter of 3 cm, and grow up to 1 - 2 m in length. In the summer months, the plant throws out tall flower stalks, at the top of which there is an inflorescence consisting of small greenish-white flowers, and this variety blooms at home much more readily than others . Often the beautiful leaves of cylindrical sansevieria are braided.

3.4. Sansevieria Futura Superba

A small species, often not exceeding 30 cm in height. Plants form a basal rosette of thick, oblong leaves arranged in a spiral. The main tone of the leaf plates is silvery-green with transverse dark stripes. The edges of the leaves are painted white or yellowish.

3.5.Sansevieria Moonshine

The name of the variety - Moonlight - speaks for itself - the leaves of this plant are colored silver-green with barely noticeable dark transverse thin stripes. Along the edge of the leaf blades there is a dark green thin stripe. The thick leaves of this sansevieria reach a width of 10 cm and a length of 60 cm.

3.6.Sansevieria Black Dragon - Sansevieria Black Dragon

Low, almost dwarf plants up to 30 cm in height with triangular leaves collected spirally into leaf rosettes. The main feature of this plant is the beautiful dark green, almost black tint of glossy leaves.

3.7.Sansevieria Kirkii

Very spectacular decorative foliage plants with large sword-shaped leaves reaching a height of 90 cm. A distinctive feature of the species is the corrugated edges of the leaf plates and the unusual, attractive bright color of the leaves. The surface of the leaves seems to be covered with a bronze patina, and the edges of the leaves have pink and white thin stripes.

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(Sansevieria trifasciata)- the most common type of sansevieria in indoor floriculture. Due to its unpretentiousness, it is widely used for landscaping office premises and other public places. Such names as Pike Tail, Mother-in-law's Tongue, and in the West it is often called the Snake Plant or Snake Skin for the peculiar color of the leaves are firmly attached to this plant.

This is one of the species of a large genus; other species can be found on the page.

Sansevieria three-lane has up to 6 leaves in a rosette. Mature leaves of the original species are dark green with light transverse stripes. The length of the leaves can reach 30-120 cm, width - 2-10 cm. The leaf is flat, lanceolate, smooth, gradually narrows upward and ends with a spine. The edge of the leaf is green. The color of the leaves is affected by the intensity of light - leaves developing in bright light have bright stripes, in lower light conditions the leaf acquires a uniform dark green color, the stripes become unclear.

Over many years of cultivation, many varieties with different colors, sizes and shapes of leaves were selected from the original species:

• Laurenti(Laurentii) is an old variety that still remains the most widespread and popular; it also became the progenitor of many other cultivars. The leaves grow vertically upward; a clear yellow stripe runs along the edge of the leaf; its width and location may vary slightly.
• Sensation Bentle, or White sansevieria(Sensation Bantel, Bantel's Sensation) is a variety selected by Gustav Bentle in 1948 as a sport variety of Laurenti. Its distinctive feature is the presence of white longitudinal stripes that alternate with dark green. The leaves are straight and hard, but slightly shorter than wild species. On the leaves, where there are wide green stripes, transverse striations characteristic of the species can be seen. The rarity of this variety is due to its slow growth rate.
• Hanny(Hahnii) is a sport from the Laurenti variety, was discovered and soon patented by S. Khan in 1941. This variety is distinguished by dark green, short, recurved leaves that form a vase-shaped rosette.
• Golden Hunny(Golden Hahnii) was patented in 1953 by S. Khan. The rosette of leaves is similar to the previous variety; its distinctive feature is the presence of irregular longitudinal yellow stripes. It grows quite slowly.
• Silver Honey(Silver Hahnii) was selected as a sport from the Hanni variety and patented by S. Khan in 1953. The growth form is almost identical to the Hanny variety, but the leaves are silver-gray-green with indistinct transverse stripes and dark edging.
• Hanni Kristata(Hahnii Cristata) - a cristate variety, similar in leaf shape to the Hanni variety.
• Futura(Futura) - similar in appearance to the Laurenti variety, but has wider and shorter leaves, the yellow stripe is usually thinner. This is a fairly new variety, but already very popular.
• Robusta(Robusta) - resembles the Futura variety, but without the yellow stripes along the edge of the leaf. The color of the leaf resembles the wild look.
• Moonshine(Moonshine) - is a relatively new variety, similar in leaf shape and growth pattern to the Futura and Robusta varieties, but the leaves are gray-green and silver in color.
• Nelson(Nelsonii) - is a sport from the Laurenti variety, was patented by O. Nelson in 1944. Dark green leaves with a velvety sheen grow straight upward. The leaves are shorter, thicker and more numerous in the rosette than those of the original species. The variety grows slowly and retains its characteristics only when propagated by dividing rhizomes; when propagated by leaf cuttings, it produces plants of the original type.
• Silver Queen(Silver Queen) - similar in growth pattern to the original species. Young leaves are almost entirely silver-gray with a thin dark edge.
• Compacta(Compacta) - is a descendant of the Laurenti variety and resembles it in appearance, but the leaves are shorter and thinner. The center of the leaf is very dark, and there is also a yellow stripe along the edge. Sometimes some leaves tend to curl, which adds additional decorativeness to the plant. The growth rate is slower than that of the original species. To maintain variety, it is propagated only by dividing rhizomes; when grown from leaf cuttings, plants of the original species are usually formed, sometimes specimens resembling the Nelson variety grow.
• Twisted Sister(Twisted Sister) - forms a low rosette of twisted olive green leaves with dark green speckles and a yellow edge.

This is only a small part of the varieties that are currently bred and are already widespread among collectors. Like the Laurenti variety, any of them can serve as the basis for developing new varieties. Despite the wide variety of varieties and species, they all have approximately the same care requirements.

Care

In terms of maintenance, this is a fairly simple and unpretentious plant; growing it is easy even for novice gardeners. The plant can grow in bright light and in the shade, can withstand a wide temperature range, and can easily survive for a long time without watering. But still, with proper care, sansevieria leaves become denser, and the features of variegated forms appear in all their glory.

Illumination indoors can range from intense light to partial shade and shade. But bright light is preferable for sansevieria; it will contribute to the formation of strong, healthy leaves and beautiful colors. With a lack of light, the leaves become dark green, the brightness of the variegated forms is lost, and growth slows down or stops altogether. However, variegated varieties should still not be kept in direct midday sun.

Temperature. Sansevieria can withstand both hot and cool conditions, but it is undesirable for the temperature to drop below +14+16 o C. In winter, you must carefully ensure that the leaves of the plant do not touch a cold window, and that the plant does not get frosty air when ventilated - the temperature even drops up to +5 o C causes hypothermia, rotting and death of the plant. The lower the temperature, the less frequent and less abundant watering should be.

Watering Sansevieria plays a great role in life. It should be remembered that this is a succulent plant, it stores water in its tissues, and excessive watering will lead to rotting and death of the plant. It tolerates long periods of drought quite calmly, but if there is insufficient watering, the leaves begin to wither. Watering should be moderate, allowing the soil to dry completely between waterings. The frequency and abundance of watering directly depends on the lighting and temperature in the room. The lower the light, the less frequently the plant should be watered. Water only from the top of the pot, avoiding water getting into the center of the outlet.

Air humidity does not play any role for sansevieria; these plants are adapted to the dry air of savannahs.

Priming must be well drained throughout the entire volume; for this, approximately 30% sand must be added to the universal soil.

Feeding. During the growing season, plants should be fed with fertilizers for cacti. If the sansevieria is in the shade or the temperature is low, then feeding should be reduced or completely eliminated. Excess fertilizer can cause plant rotting, loss of varietal characteristics, and leaf deformation.

Transfer It is only required when the pot becomes crowded, once every few years. Powerful rhizomes can tear the pot apart. When choosing dishes, preference should be given to wide and shallow pots, since roots and rhizomes grow wide without going deep.

Reproduction

Sansevierias are propagated in spring or summer by vegetative methods - by dividing rhizomes or leaf cuttings.

To preserve their characteristics, variegated and some other varieties should be propagated only by dividing the rhizomes. When propagated by leaf cuttings, the characteristics of the variety are often lost and young plants of a natural appearance grow and lose their variegation.

The rhizome is divided with a sharp knife so that each division has a growing point and a rosette of leaves. The delenki are placed in separate pots, the wounds sprinkled with coal, in a sandy substrate. At first, watering is very limited. After rooting, several new shoots and new rosettes of leaves are formed from each piece of rhizome.

To propagate by leaf cuttings, a healthy leaf is cut transversely into 5 cm fragments, the sections are dried in air, then the lower cut is treated with Kornevin and buried 1-2 cm in sterile, slightly damp sand or a mixture of sand and peat. There is no need to put it in a greenhouse; high air humidity can cause rot. The light is bright, diffused, temperature is about +20+25 o C. Rooting lasts approximately 6-8 weeks, after which young shoots begin to grow.

Sansevieria (sansevieria or sansevieria) in our country known as “Pike Tail”, “Mother-in-Law’s Tongue” and “Snake Skin” is one of the most popular indoor plants, characterized by highly decorative foliage and unpretentiousness. This article is devoted to a description of the most interesting species and varieties of Sansevieria with photos and names.

In nature There are about 70 species of Sansevieria , differing in shape, size, color, arrangement of leaves and some features of the growing season. Based on these characteristics, all types of “pike tail” can be divided into several groups:

high (from 1 m and above), medium height (from 40 to 100 cm) height and short (up to 40 cm);

rosette and basal;

with stem and without shoot;

blooming and not;

broad- and narrow-leaved;

plain and variegated.

Sansevieria Three-Stripe (Three-Stripe or Himalayan) and its varieties

This one of the most common types , which is native to the dry and rocky regions of South Africa. Since the 13th century, the species has been cultivated indoors and is characterized by the presence of:

powerful creeping rhizome;

rosette (5-6 pieces each), long (up to 1.5 m), varying widths (from 3 to 10 cm), glossy leaves, lanceolate or xiphoid, with a pointed apex, often turning into a spike and directed vertically upward;

variegated color of leaf blades, combining shades of green with a pattern of transverse stripes, often edged with stripes of light yellow, cream or greenish shades;

flowering, accompanied by the formation of paniculate, racemose or umbellate inflorescences of light (white, cream, greenish) shades, formed by small flowers with a corolla resembling a miniature lily flower;

unique endurance and unpretentiousness.

The high decorative value of sansevieria, combined with the ease of cultivation, contributed to its rapid spread as an indoor crop and selection, which resulted in numerous varieties and varieties.

Laurenti

One of the first varieties that appeared at the peak of the popularity of “Pike Tail”. It is characterized by:

impressive sizes (height up to 1.5 m, width up to 10 cm);

vertically upward directed leaves, the edges of which are bordered by a clear yellow stripe.

Sensation Bentle or White

A variety that differs from Laurenti not only in color, but also in leaf size:

they are significantly shorter (up to 60 cm);

decorated with an elegant pattern of alternating longitudinal light and dark green stripes and emerald specks.

The growing season of Sensation Bentle is characterized by slow growth, intolerance to direct sunlight and the need for moderate watering.

Futura

Relatively new and already popular variety, interesting with dense rosettes of 10-13 light green leaves with dark transverse strokes and yellow edging. The leaf blades are widened in the central part and narrowed towards the base and apex.

The variety has several varieties. The most popular:

Superba, 40-45 cm high, with massive wide (up to 10 cm) and hard leaves;

Gold, more modest, in comparison with Superba, in size and with a large amount of golden-yellow tint in the color of the leaves;

Black Gold, with thin and tall leaves of bluish colors.

Robusta

It is distinguished by rosettes formed by wide short leaves of juicy green shades with dark stripes. For this reason, the flower looks unusually strong and resembles relict plants.

Interesting hybrid varieties are:

Black, characterized by rapid growth, accompanied by a gradual change in leaf color - a thickening of the green tone to dark, almost black, with a metallic sheen, shades.

Blue, with thick, spear-shaped leaves, growing almost horizontally, in tiers and colored in blue, with a waxy coating, tones.

Nelson

Hybrid Laurenti, named after its creator and has short (25-30 cm) dense dark green leaves with a velvety texture, arranged in dense rosettes.

Moonshine or Sylve Moons

Exotic variety with underground rosettes. The leaves grow from the ground and outwardly resemble algae of a monochromatic light gray, almost white color with blurred transverse stripes and a noble silver tint. For such an unusual color, the hybrid received such a romantic name, translated meaning “Moonlight”.

Compacta

A smaller copy of Laurenti, differing from its parent in having shorter, thinner and elegantly curved leaves, giving the rosette a slightly disheveled appearance.

The growing season of the variety is characterized by:

slow growth;

preservation of varietal characteristics only when propagated by sections of rhizome;

intolerance to waterlogging. If this happens, the compacta leaves turn yellow and wilt.

Silver Queen

A hybrid with narrow pointed leaves of gray-blue color, with a silver tint. The general background of the leaf blades is covered with blurry dark green spots. The edges are decorated with piping in a similar shade to the main background. People call it the noble name “Silver Queen”.

Twister Sister

A newly developed variety with a low rosette of leaves growing on two shoots. This feature is reflected in the name of the variety, translated as “twin sisters.”

Twister's leaves are bright olive or dark green, edged with a yellow stripe and slightly twisted, as if in a dance.

Gold Flame

One of the most beautiful varieties , which is a rosette of elongated pointed leaves of original colors:

the upper (front) side of the leaves is painted in bright yellow tones, resembling the shape and color of flames;

the lower (wrong) side is green, striated, with a yellow edge.

The younger the leaf, the more yellow tones there are in its color.

Family of varieties Hanni (Hani)

The Hanni variety is represented by numerous varieties obtained artificially and patented in the first half of the 20th century.

All Hanni hybrids are characterized by:

compact, squat (up to 30 cm) and flirty vase-shaped rosettes;

leaves that are wide and short, with pointed tips, slightly bent outward;

lack of flowering.

The first hybrid obtained through selection was named after its creator. Its distinctive feature is the green leaves with transverse stripes of light green or yellowish tint.

The “Hanny” variety became the progenitor of several dozen hybrids, among which there are monochromatic forms and variegated ones. The most popular in indoor floriculture are:

Golden (Golden) Hanny with wide golden stripes along the edges of the leaf blades, directed in a circle and somewhat to the side.

Silver (Silver) Hanny with rosettes of silvery leaves in dark blurry stripes.

Hanni Cristata has pockmarked green leaves that curl from the edges toward the center, giving the appearance of being folded in half lengthwise.

Rarer, but no less spectacular hybrids, found mainly in the collections of sansevieria fans, are Honey:

Cream, with showy silver-green leaves edged with a light (white or cream) stripe;

Marginata, which has green leaf blades edged with a yellow stripe;

A favorite with membranous yellow-green leaves;

Streaker with small dark green leaves with a yellow central part, slightly turned to the sides;

Jade is a variety with solid dark green leaves.

Hanny looks great in single plantings and mixes, in flower arrangements and mixborders.

Other varieties of Sansevieria

In addition to the three-stripe, there are other, no less interesting, varieties of “pike tail”. They differ in origin, appearance and some features of the growing season.

Zeylanika

This species has beautiful wide leaves of medium length (up to 40 cm) with spectacular silver or green wavy stripes and specks

Zeilanika is very popular among indoor gardeners, second only to variegated forms in terms of decorativeness.

Sansevieria Craig

Many taxonomists consider this variety to be a variety of three-striped sansevieria, but it is not listed in taxonomic catalogs. This is probably an independent species, distinguished by long, pointed leaves with a striking light yellow, almost white, coloring with irregular green stripes.

Grandis or Sansevieria Big

A large species, the adult forms of which have rough, wide (the size of a human palm) and long (up to 1.5 m) leaves. Due to its unusual shape and impressive size, the flower is popularly called “Elephant Ears”.

The leaf blades of Grandis are almost monochromatic and colored in shades of green with dark transverse zigzag stripes. The edges are decorated with a narrow reddish border.

Sansevieria Majora blooms, forming clusters of pale green buds with cylindrical perianths swollen at the base, the narrow lobes of which are bent downwards. The inflorescence bears a long (up to 80 cm) peduncle with 3-4 reduced leaves.

As an indoor crop, the Zulu variety Grandis is most common. It looks impressive in group plantings.

Duneri

In its natural environment it grows in western Africa and is strikingly different from its relatives. It is an unexpressed leaf succulent; with rosettes consisting of 10-20 flat, long (up to 60 cm), narrow (1.5-3 cm) and fragile light green, dark-patterned, pointed leaves.

Another distinctive feature of the species is its thick, highly branched green rhizome, thanks to which the flower, as it grows, forms a dense clump.

Duneri blooms, releasing a small (4 cm) peduncle with small white buds. Their aroma is reminiscent of lilac.

The species has several varieties, among which there are ampelous or hanging forms, grown in flower beds and hanging flowerpots.

Liberian Sansevieria (Liberica)

It surprises with the unusual (almost horizontal) arrangement of lanceolate leaves, collected in rosettes of 5-6 pieces and a spectacular color:

lighter stripes or specks are applied to the main dark green background of the leaf;

the edges of the leaves are edged with a narrow strip of pink or terracotta tone.

When grown in good conditions, Liberica actively blooms, forming a long (about 1 m) peduncle ending in a panicle of light flowers with a pungent odor. In indoor conditions, the beginning of flowering is not confined to a specific season and always begins after a period of rest.

Eilenzis

A succulent discovered in 1973 in one of the districts of the city of Eiler (Somalia) and is a slow-growing plant with rough, downward-curved cylindrical leaves, painted in light blue tones with regular transverse white stripes and longitudinal green lines.

In young forms, a deep canal runs along the entire length of the leaf. As they “mature,” the leaves gradually bend inward along the canal, and the ends are connected into a tube. The cuticle at the base of the leaf and at its tip dries out.

Sansevieria cylindrica (Cylindrica)

An exotic species with pointed leaves twisted into tubes of different diameters, resembling long narrow tubes or cylinders growing vertically upward.

Currently, the species is very popular and has a huge number of varieties:

Twister: tall variety (up to 1 m) with very flexible leaves, colored in shades of dark green, amenable to weaving .

Mikado: a so far rare variety with half-meter thick, fleshy leaves of light green shades, lined with dark green transverse stripes.

Spike: a spectacular variety with a special arrangement of pointed leaves, growing not in a rosette, but alternately from the base of the trunk.

Patens: with fan-shaped leaves, about 30 cm long, lined with longitudinal stripes and growing almost parallel to the soil surface.

Spaghetti: with rosettes of dense and rounded leaves in a peppery section, up to 50 cm high, with pointed tips.

Velvet Touch: a new product, created on the basis of Spaghetti and complemented by a bright edging of the upper third of the sheet with a plant-safe dye. You can see representatives of this variety here: https://youtu.be/W_05sMAYUVE. The innovation causes a mixed reaction among Sansevieria lovers and is actively discussed on forums.

Beautifully flowering forms

In their natural environment, sansevieria bloom regularly. Flowering is short-lived (5-7 days) and has several features:

the buds open only at night and are fragrant;

The leaf rosette forms a peduncle only once, after which it stops growing and gradually dies.

The flowering of most species is inconspicuous and is significantly inferior in its decorative effect to the leaves. However, not everything is clear here: several species are rightfully considered beautifully flowering. This applies to the Hyacinth Saneviera and Kirka varieties.

Sansevieria Hyacinth

A species with a strong rhizome and small (2-4 leaves) rosettes, dark green, with spots or streaks of V-shaped leaves half a meter long, slightly widened in the central part and tapering at the base. An obligatory element of coloring is the edging, the color of which varies from red-orange to milky-white tones.

Hyacinth sansevieria varieties bloom in winter, producing a long (0.7 m) strong peduncle topped with a panicle of small fragrant buds. The shape and aroma of the inflorescence resembles hyacinth.

The Ayo variety is considered one of the most beautiful hybrids among hyacinth sansevierias. It is distinguished by its leaves, half a meter high, elongated and rounded at the base, covered with silver-gray fuzzy spots and a thin orange edging.

Pickaxes

The species is named after the British consul and collector D. Kirke. The leaves of Kirka are collected in rosettes of 5-15 pieces and resemble hard ruffles, colored green or pinkish-brown, with small whitish specks, tone.

Kirki blooms, forming large umbrellas of inflorescences of graceful white buds, decorated with intricate curls of stamens. Against the background of green leaves, the snow-white inflorescences of Kirka are like stars against the dark background of the sky. This explains the origin of the unofficial name of the variety - “Star”.

The species has several varieties, the most interesting are:

pickaxe Beautiful with brownish-red leaves;

Friends' picks with compact dense rosettes of narrow (1-2.5 cm) long leaves;

pickaxe Silver Blue, a rare and slow-growing miniature variety with a rosette of dense spotted ruffled leaves of a blue, silver-plated hue.

Stem forms of Sansevieria

The vast majority of Sansevieria species have short shoots, but there are exceptions. Exist stem sansevieria having shoots of 2 types:

vertical and short stems, clasped along their entire length by leaf bases.

aerial shoots or stolons, at the ends of which leaf rosettes develop.

Sansevieria Graceful or Graceful

This species is characterized by the presence of a small (6 cm) round shoot from which vaginal leaves arise. The leaf blades are short (up to 30 cm), wide, oval and fleshy, with an elongated pointed apex, rolled into a tube. The leaves are colored in shades of green with a gray tint and are pierced with transverse stripes of a dark green hue.

A few shoots develop from the base of the stem, enhancing the impression of the gracefulness of the plant.

Sansevieria Graceful blooms in spring or autumn, forming insignificant light flowers with a faint aroma. Suitable for growing on windowsills

Pinguecula or Walking Sansevieria

The presence of a trunk and a special, not typical for most Sansevieria, arrangement of leaves of an original shape became the reason for the origin of the name of this species.

Pinguecula has large and thick leaves with a slightly elongated sharp end and a contrasting edging.

Leaf rosettes develop on stolons extending in different directions from the main trunk. With their help, the plant develops nearby territories or “walks.”

Bali

A species of stem sansevieria, named after its discoverer, Peter Bali (Switzerland). Outwardly, it is similar to Walking Sansevieria, differing:

thicker (succulent) shoots up to 5 cm long;

short (20-50 cm) and rounded leaves with fused edges and conical tops, painted dark green, with transverse silver-green stripes, color.

Sanseviera francisi

One of the few stem forms with a creeping shoot, from which cylindrical leaves, dark green at the base and rough to the touch, extend in rows. The pointed leaf blades extend to a height of 30 to 60 cm.

The look looks original and impressive in hanging pots and flowerpots.

Sansevieria forms with the illusion of escape

Among Sansevieria there are stemless forms with an original arrangement of leaves, giving the impression of a shoot. They are a kind of “transitional” variant from stem forms to ordinary, rosette forms.

Ehrenberg

A low (up to 50 cm) flowering variety, characterized by the active growth of paired sword-shaped leaves in the horizontal direction. In the natural environment, the “span” of the leaves of adult plants often exceeds 1 meter. In indoor conditions, the plant looks much more modest, but no less impressive.

Sansevieria Stuckey

The species differs from Ehrenberg in having longitudinally folded dark green, marbling, leathery and fleshy leaves.

Stucky blooms in spring and fall, producing fragrant yellow-white flowers.

It is impossible to describe all types of sansevieria in one article, but the information presented above already indicates the diversity of this plant, attracting the attention of collectors, designers and simply lovers of unusual plants.

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