The plants commonly known as Snake Plants or Mother-in-Law's Tongues belong to the genus *Sansevieria*, which has recently been reclassified under the genus *Dracaena* based on phylogenetic studies. However, the horticultural world largely continues to use the familiar *Sansevieria* name. These plants are characterized by their tough, succulent leaves that grow from a subterranean rhizome. This rhizomatous growth habit is a key identifying feature, as it allows the plant to spread and produce new shoots, often leading to dense clumps. Their leaves exhibit a range of morphologies, from flat and strap-like to cylindrical, and are often marked with distinctive cross-bandings and marginal stripes, which are central to variety identification.
To accurately identify a Snake Plant variety, one must observe several morphological features. The leaf shape is paramount: whether it is flat, concave, or cylindrical. The growth pattern is also telling; some varieties grow in a tight rosette while others produce leaves in a fan-like arrangement. Coloration and patterning include the color of the leaf margins, the presence and tone of cross-bandings (often in shades of green, silver, or yellow), and any longitudinal stripes. Furthermore, the presence or absence of a leaf tip, such as a hardened red-brown point, can be a diagnostic trait. The size of the plant at maturity is another significant factor, with varieties ranging from compact 6-inch rosettes to tall, architectural forms over 4 feet.
Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’: This is perhaps the most iconic variety. Its leaves are tall, flat, and sword-like with a deep green background and striking, contrasting horizontal bands of a lighter green-gray. Its most definitive characteristic is the bright, creamy-yellow margin that runs the entire length of each leaf. It is a variegated cultivar, and any propagations must be done by division to maintain this marginal variegation, as leaf cuttings will revert to the standard species form.
Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii’ (Bird’s Nest Snake Plant): This variety is distinct for its markedly different growth habit. Instead of tall, upright leaves, ‘Hahnii’ forms a compact, low-growing, cup-shaped rosette that resembles a bird’s nest. It retains the characteristic dark green with lighter gray-green cross-bandings of the species but presents it on short, broad, and recurving leaves. Several sub-cultivars exist, such as the ‘Golden Hahnii’, which features yellow variegation along the leaf margins.
Sansevieria cylindrica (Cylindrical Snake Plant): This species is immediately identifiable by its smooth, round, and rigid leaves that grow in a fan-like arrangement from a single base. The leaves are a uniform green-gray color with subtle, darker green longitudinal stripes and cross-bandings. The leaves have a characteristic pointed tip. Often, specimens are sold with their leaves artistically braided while they are still pliable.
Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Moonshine’: This cultivar is prized for its unique and elegant coloration. Its broad, flat leaves are a solid, silvery-light green, giving them a moonlit or metallic appearance. The margins are often a very subtle, darker green, but the overall effect is one of a sleek, almost monochromatic plant. The new growth may emerge a brighter green before maturing to the characteristic silvery ‘moonshine’ hue.
