Snake Plant Types – Mother in Laws Tongue
Affectionately called Mother in Laws Tongue this is a native of Africa, Madagascar, and southern Asia. Dracaena trifasciata is a group of Snake Plant types and varieties considered a succulent and are so popular as they are easy to grow. For me and many others, this was our first plant.
The snake plant can really be an indoor statement piece requiring very little care besides infrequent watering and a wipe-down of the leaves. NASA even concluded that the Snake Plant produced enough oxygen to keep us alive in a sealed room!
After you pick your next Snake Plant, read our Snake Plant Care Guide, and click the picture below to find a place to purchase it. Here’s our guide to keep it alive!
Laurentii
I love my Laurentii snake plant! This is a beautiful and easy-care plant.
The long, sword-shaped leaves with dark green and gold variegation are bold and eye catching. This house plant can tolerate a wide range of lighting conditions and requires minimal watering. This is a hard plant to kill, believe me, I tried!
The Laurentii snake plant is known for its air-purifying properties according to NASA . I feel like it makes my home a healthier place to live. I would definitely recommend this plant to anyone who is looking for a beautiful, easy-care, and air-purifying houseplant.
Black Coral
‘Black Coral’, also known as snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue, is a popular, low-maintenance houseplant valued for its ease of care and striking appearance when mature. This houseplant is very similar to the Laurentii above but with dark green, almost black, horizontal bands over a lighter green background.
Moonshine
The moonshine snake plant is a newer cultivar, and it is not as common as some other types of snake plants. This variety will get more and more popular due to its uniqueness. It keeps the easy care qualities but with soft green leaves and silvery-gray stripes.
Hahnii Green
This is such a small and compact plant, perfect for my small apartment. The short, thick leaves that grow in a rosette are just gorgeous, and I love the green with yellow stripes. It only grows up to 6 inches tall, so it doesn’t take up much space and yes, easy care!
Whitney
Such a striking plant, with its silvery green, stiff, upright leaves that mimic tongues of flames. The dark green horizontal stripes create a unique contrast, and I love how the leaves seem to glow in the evening and early morning.
Easy to care for. I only water it when the soil is dry to the touch, and it seems to thrive in low-light conditions. I’m so glad I decided to get this plant, it’s a real showstopper!
Hahnii Golden
Short, broad leaves that spiral out from the center, resembling a bird nest. The radiant golden edges of the leaves create a captivating focal point, and I love how the plant only reaches approximately 6-8 inches in height, making it a compact yet visually appealing houseplant. And you guessed it, easy care!
Hahnii Jade
Like its cousin above, the Hahnii Jade is small and interesting. The plant is like the Golden but is dark green where it gets the Jade name from. Depending on your decor, this one might be a better fit.
Jaboa
A relatively new cultivar, so it is not as common as some other types of snake plants, check out the variations in the leaves. Very unique and I would love to have one of these. However, I think it is one of the most beautiful and unique snake plants out there.
Black Dragon
The Black Dragon Snake Plant is a popular, low-maintenance houseplant valued for its almost black leaves and very little variation. This cultivar is characterized by its upright, sword-like leaves featuring dark green, almost black, horizontal bands, simply striking.
Robusta
The Robusta snake plant is another newer cultivar, and it is not as common as some other types of snake plants. It has the same easy care properties as other snake plants but not at tall and the leaves tend to be wider. Everyone will be asking for a cutting to propagate, you decide if you share 🙂
Lauren
This cultivar is characterized by its long, sword-shaped leaves with dark green and bright gold variegation. The leaves are upright and grow in a rosette. I really like how bright the leaf edges are.
Night Owl
Night Owl has thick, sword-like leaves emerge from the base, displaying a deep green color that borders on black under dim lighting.
I love how the leaves are so dark, and I think the name ‘Night Owl’ is perfect for this plant.
Bental's Sensation
What a great name and striking plant! Thin, upright leaves that are striped with dark green and creamy yellow. The leaves grow in a rosette, and they can reach up to 2 feet in height. I love the way the leaves are stripped, and I think the contrast between the dark green and creamy yellow is just wow.
Futura Superba
What a great name and striking plant! Wider leaves and that great golden edge make this a real stunner. Slightly compact compared to other full-size snake plants but has all the beauty.
Sansevieria zeylanica
It is a robust and versatile plant that is native to Sri Lanka and parts of India. I also love how its long, slender, arching leaves are dark green with subtle horizontal stripes. The contrast between the dark green and the stripes is so striking, and I love how the leaves arch upwards, giving the plant a wilder appearance than the more structured Snake Plant, Sansevieria trifasciata.
Sansevieria sayuri
Check out the Sayuri snake plant! It is a unique and striking cultivar of the popular snake plant. I love how its leaves are a vibrant shade of green, with bold, irregular stripes of creamy white running vertically along their length. The contrast between the dark green and the stripes is so striking, and I love how the leaves are upright and sword-like, giving the plant a dramatic, almost graphic quality.
Sansevieria cylindrical
I’ve not seen one in person but I really like the Sansevieria cylindrica! It is an attractive succulent plant that is native to Angola. I love how its cylindrical, pointed leaves can grow up to several feet in length. The deep green color with faintly marked horizontal bands is so striking, and the leaves usually appear in pairs from the base.
Sansevieria Fernwood ‘Mikado’
Here’s another new one you may not have seen. Another name could have been a bad hair day! The Mikado is very interesting with the thin foliage going every direction. This cultivar is characterized by its upright, sword-like leaves featuring dark green, almost black, horizontal bands over a lighter green background. These leaves have a slight twist to them, which gives the plant a unique and eye-catching appearance.
Sansevieria ‘La Rubia’
I recently got my hands on a rare snake plant called La Rubia, and I am absolutely in love with it! We purchased this house plant online and had it shipped with no issues even with it being over 90F ouside. La Rubia literally translates to “The Blonde” in English, and it is easy to see why. The leaves of this plant are a vibrant shade of yellow with dark green stripes. Each plant is unique, with varying amounts of yellows and greens, and each has its own unique pattern.
Have a Snake Plant Care question or want to show off your Plant Parent skills? Jump into our Facebook Group and post it up. See you there!

Elyssa Goins is a gardener, beekeeper, and a proud mom of four. She is a member of the American Horticultural Society, has been published in a Scientific Journal, and loves to talk about her love of plants. For the past twenty years, she’s been all about growing and caring for various fruits, veggies, herbs, livestock, kids, and houseplants. Managing a big garden to feed four growing kids and raising dairy goats has taught her so much about being an excellent plant parent and now is her time to share with you.
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